March 2, 2003

Athens, Ga. – The University of Kentucky men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams finished the final day of the Bulldog Invitational at Georgia’s Gabrielson Natatorium on Sunday, March 2. The Cats were competing to qualify in this month’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship.

For the men, junior Fernando Barros qualified made another “B” cut when he swam the 100-free in 44.89. The “B” qualifying time was 44.94. To automatically qualify, Barros would have had to come in at 43.64 or better.

On the women’s side, freshman Brennan Moore finished the 200-back in 2:00.96. Under the “B” time of 2:01.23, automatic qualifying was 1:57.70. Fellow freshman Laura Graham swam the 200-breast in 2:18.25. The automatic-qualifying time was 2:14.23 and the “B” time was 2:18.25. While all the times were under the provisional “B” time, a trip to the NCAA’s is not guaranteed.

“We had some pretty good swims today,” Coach Gary Conelly said. “It was good that Fernando (Barros) picked up the extra “B-cut” but unfortunately it doesn’t look like we’ll get any of the women qualified. There is a pretty good chance that our men’s 200-medley relay team will make it though.”

It will take about a week before the NCAA fields are announced. Should any of the women qualify, they would head to Auburn on March 20. The men’s NCAA Tournament will be held in Austin, Texas beginning March 27.