BAHAMAS.?University of Kentucky swimmer Elvis Burrows earned a spot on the Bahamian National team for a place in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Friday at the Bahamian National meet. Burrows qualified with a blistering 22.88 time in the 50-free long course swim this morning.

?This feels like I?ve reached the pinnacle of my career,? Burrows said. ?It is such an honor to make the team, and it?s a huge sigh of relief after all of my hard work.?

Burrows took part in this morning?s time trials in the 50-free and tapped the wall in a personal-best time by more than a second.

?The crowd was cheering for me before I even had a chance to look at the board to see my time,? Burrows said. ?It was a good feeling to achieve this in front of my home crowd. It?s just a dream come true.?

The rising junior placed 23rd at the Southeastern Conference meet in the 50-free short course with a personal-best time of 20.55 this spring. He also placed 23rd in the 100-fly in a time of 49.48, a career-best clip and 10th best mark in school history.

?I am so thankful for all of the support at the University of Kentucky,? said Burrows. ?They have definitely been a major factor in my development as a swimmer.?

Burrows will also compete in the 100-fly for a chance to represent the Bahamas at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing beginning in August. He is the second consecutive UK athlete to represent the Bahamas at the Olympics, as former swimmer Nikia Deveaux competed in the 2004 Olympics.

Follow Burrows? progress, and that of the rest of the Kentucky swimmers and divers vying for a spot in the Olympic Games at UKathletics.com.