Local swimmer Elizabeth Beisel in Olympic final

(WPRI/AP) - North Kingstown's Elizabeth Beisel will compete Friday night for an Olympic gold medal in the 200-meter backstroke finals.

The 15-year-old swimmer won her semi-final heat with a time of 2:07.90.  That puts Beisel just behind Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry who won the other semi-final with a time of 2:07.76.  Another American, world record-holder Margaret Hoelzer also advanced to the final with the fifth-best time, 2:08.25.

Beisel is the youngest member of the American swim team.