A second member of the Hong Kong National Team system, Jamie Yeung, has verbally committed to the University of Michigan. She will join national cohort Siobhan Haughey, a Junior World Champion, in training with the Wolverines.
Unlike Haughey, a sprinter, Yeung is a breaststroker who won a pair of bronze medals at the 2013 Youth Asian Games, where she swam a 1:11.3 in the 100 long course breast and 2:34.80 in the 200 breast in long course – both of which are best times. She also adds a 32.69 in the 50 long course meter breaststrokes.
“There are several reasons why I decided to come study and train in the US,” Yeung said of her decision. “One being the US has a system that really supports student athletes, especially UMich where their swimming and academic programs are both excellent.”
Having these two training together in Ann Arbor provides potential for the Hong Kong national federation as well, given that now the back-half of what should be their national medley relay will be training (and probably racing) together on a regular basis.
Yeung says that while she’s excited to have Haughey as a teammate, she largely made this decision because it’s what is right for her.
“I went to the Children’s Games back in 2012, Youth Olympics and Asian Games with her in the past few months,” Yeung said. “She’s a swimmer I look up to and I’m very excited to be able to attend the same Uni as her. However, her decision to go to Michigan was just a small impact on my decision because there are so many great swimmers and coaches that are already there.”
The Michigan Wolverine women haven’t finished in the top 10 at NCAA’s since a 9th-place finish in 2008, but have been trending in the right direction since Mike Bottom took over the women’s program two seasons ago.
Besides Haughey and Jeung, this Michigan recruiting class is one, on top of the last two the Wolverines have had, that could start to lift this program back to that top 10 level. Others in the class:
- Astrid Swensen (54.6/1:57.8 butterflier);
- Becca Postoll (23.3/50.1 freestyler);
- Catie Deloof (23.6/50.1 freestyler);
- Katie Duggan (4:47/16:33 distance freestyler)
