Nov. 30, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In one of the final chances to qualify for the USA Olympic Swimming Trials, 16 University of Kentucky swimmers will travel south to Atlanta, Ga., to compete in the 2011 AT&T Winter National Championships at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, beginning on Thursday Dec. 1, and continuing through Dec. 4.

“This is a great opportunity for our swimmers with Olympic aspirations to get in some critical long course racing,” UK head coach Gary Conelly said. “Many of the 16 already have Olympic Trial cuts, but there are a few that need to pick up one or two more.  We have rested for a few days, so we are expecting some good swims.”

Included in the list of 16 student-athletes representing Kentucky are Christina Bechtel, Lee Duggins, Megan Eppler, Julia Gerotto, Lucas Gerotto, Will Heidler, Jonathan Keltner, Abby Myers, Diana Norkus, Tyler Reed, Samantha Shaheen, Carlos Sierra, Maclin Simpson, Ramon Walton, Kristen Wilson and Samantha Wright.

In normal years, this event would be ran using short-course regulations, however, with this being an Olympic year, the pool will be set up in a long-course format, helping swimmers adjust to the Olympic-sized pool.

If swimmers can compile a time good enough to qualify for Olympic Trials, they will travel to Omaha, Neb., on June 25 through July 12 this summer. In Omaha, swimmers will compete in the USA Swimming Olympic Trials, and the best times out of those swims will travel to London, England to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games representing the United States.

For continuing team coverage of the winter season, and all of the most updated UK swimming and diving information, log on to UKAthletics.com.