Nov. 18, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky swimming and diving teams are set to compete at the Tennessee Invitational for the second consecutive season beginning Thursday. The championship-like meet covers a three-day span in which the squads will have morning preliminary races and then evening finals encompassing a championship-like environment.

The competition is the first for the Wildcats since UK had back-to-back dual meets on the road at Virginia Tech and at Virginia on Nov. 6 and 7. Kentucky’s 19th-ranked men’s squad was led by senior Eric McGinnis who swam the fastest 50-free time in the nation with his leadoff split in the 200-free relay. McGinnis’ time, as well as the relay’s mark are NCAA `B’ qualifying standards.

McGinnis was honored as the SEC’s Swimmer of the Week for his efforts as the Raleigh, N.C., native captured wins in the 50-free against both the Hokies and the Cavaliers.

Junior Lisa Faulkner has been a major factor for Kentucky’s women’s teams early success. Faulkner, a transfer from George Mason, has been simply spectacular on the boards for the Blue and White. Faulkner has captured sweeps of both the one- and three-meter boards in each of the last four meets for the Wildcats.

This is the second consecutive season head coach Gary Conelly has taken his squads to the Tennessee Invitational. Senior Megan Pulskamp had an extraordinary performance in Knoxville a season ago tallying top-four finishes in both butterfly events. Classmate Casey Miller scored three top-12 taps at the UT Invitational, including ninth place finish in the 400-individual medley.

Fellow senior Elvis Burrows placed fifth in the 100-fly at the Invite in 2008. In his last competition at Virginia, Burrows notched season best times in both the 100-fly and the 50-free. Junior Tyler Reed scored a third-place tap in the 200-free at the Invitational as a sophomore.

For the most up-to-date information regarding the Kentucky swimming and diving squads please visit UKathletics.com.