Nov. 15, 2002

Lexington, Ky. – Several University of Kentucky swimmers rank in the top 50 in their respective events, according to times released by Taper & Shave magazine.

Junior Joey Faltraco and freshman Steven Manley highlight the UK rankings. Faltraco, who has been named to the 2003 Pan Am Games team, holds the fourth-fastest time in the 200 backstroke this fall at 1:47.34 and is also 15th in the 200 IM with a time of 1:51.72. Manley, a native of Dublin, Ireland, comes in with the seventh-best time (1:38.49) in the 200 freestyle and is 31st in the 500 freestyle at 4:33.28.

Daniel Cruz, a junior at UK, has an impressive time of 1:49.02 in the 200 butterfly, the 13th-fastest time in the nation. Other UK swimmers appearing in the rankings include: Roger Watkins (36th in the 200 breastroke), Matt Nilson (47th in the 200 butterfly), Chrissy Miller (38th in the 200 freestyle), Shantel Commander (45th in the 200 breaststroke) and Brennan Moore (46th in the 1,000 freestyle and 47th in the 200 backstroke).

The UK women’s 400 freestyle relay team (3:32.47) ranks 38th nationally, while the 400 medley team (3:54.32) stands at 33rd. Three of the men’s relay teams appear in the top 50, led by the 24th-place 400 freestyle with a time of 3:06.40. The 400 medley team (3:25.45) ranks 29th and the 800 freestyle (9:59.59) relay holds the 32nd best time.

The Cats will be back in action next weekend when they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. for the Nike Invitational Cup to be held Nov. 21-23. They return home for a date with the Missouri Tigers on Dec. 7.