On Wednesday, August 8, rising senior Katie Meili began competition at the USA Swimming 2012 US Open in Indianapolis, Indiana. The US Open serves as a selection event for the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia and the Ivy League swimmer of the year looked to earn her spot last weekend.

Participating in both the 100 and 200 meter breaststroke events, Meili swam a personal best 2:34.06 in the 200 breaststroke finishing 22nd overall on Wednesday. She returned early on Friday, August 10 to the Indiana University Natatorium for the prelims of the 100 breaststroke to compete in her best event. With a time of 1:10.0 she finished eighth, pushing her to the finals to contend for a spot in the 2013 World University Games.

With a personal best time of 1:09.68, Meili placed sixth in the final heat. She posted the fifth fastest American time and continues to boost her world ranking.

The World University Games is the American term for "Universiade", which is an international multi-sport event organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The Universiade is an international sporting and cultural festival, staged every two years in a different city around the world. It is second only in importance to the Olympic Games.