March 25, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- At a post-NCAA Championships long-course meter meet in Columbus, Ohio, sophomore Genny Szymanski (Haines, Alaska/Haines) and freshman Ellen Grigg (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin School) each delivered Olympic trial cuts to qualify for the USA Swimming Olympic trials in June in Omaha, Neb.

Szymanksi swam a 2:16.55 in the 200-meter backstroke to come in well under the cut time of 2:17.99. She finished third out of nine swimmers in the event, with six of them earning Olympic trial spots.

Grigg swam a 2:02.47 in the 200-meter freestyle to finish first out of 14 competitors in the event. The Olympic trial cut for the race is 2:03.39, a mark which three of the swimmers reached in Columbus.

The USA Swimming meet in June will determine who represents the United States in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.