March 29, 2002

ATHENS, Ga. – Junior Clayton Moss followed up his second-place finish on the one-meter springboard with a fifth-place finish on the three-meter springboard as competition continued at the 2002 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Gabrielsen Natatorium on the University of Georgia campus on Friday, March 29.

Moss, whose highest finish on the three-meter at the NCAA Championships prior to Friday’s competition was an eighth-place finish in 2000, scored a 614.85 to claim All-American honors in the event for the second time in his career. Texas senior Troy Dumais, who finished ahead of Moss on the one-meter, scored a 673.80 to win the event for the fourth consecutive year.

In swimming action, sophomore Joey Faltraco just missed making the consolation finals in the 400-yard individual medley, placing 18th with a time of 3:49.81. His time shattered the UK record that he set at the 2002 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships by over two-and-a-half seconds.

Junior Roger Watkins also missed out on scoring for the Cats as he clocked a 55.34 in the 100-yard breaststroke to place 26th.

Kentucky now has 31 team points and stands in 17th-place after two days. Texas sits in first with 376 points while Auburn is the highest-placed Southeastern Conference team with 252.5 points, good enough for third.

The championships will conclude on Saturday as Moss tries for his third-straight All-American honors of the week as he competes on the platform while Faltraco swims the 200-yard backstroke and Watkins the 200-yard breaststroke. All the action can be followed live on the Internet at www.GeorgiaDogs.com.

NCAA Champion and UK Finishes400-Yard Individual Medley1. Erik Vendt  JRSouthern Cal     3:40.6518. Joey Faltraco  SOKentucky         3:49.81

100-Yard Breaststroke1. Brendan Hansen SOTexas 52.4726. Roger Watkins JRKentucky 55.34

Three-Meter Diving1. Troy Dumais SRTexas 673.805. Clayton Moss JRKentucky 614.85

-UK-