LEXINGTON, Ky.?Three University of Kentucky swimmers will compete for a spot on the United States national team for the World University Games this week at the United States open held in Minneapolis, Minn.

Rising juniors Eric McGinnis and Megan Pulskamp and rising sophomore Tyler Reed will take to the pool in a hotly contested meet from July 29-Aug. 2. All three swimmers will take part in two events during the week, as they hope to earn a spot on the team for the World University Games.

McGinnis is entered in the meet with the third best time in the 50-freestyle after a spectacular showing at the US Olympic Trials in early July. McGinnis clocked in a personal-best time of 22.40 in a time trial. At the time, the swim was marked as the ninth fastest in the United States and the 39th fastest time in the world. The rising junior will also compete in the 100-free where he is seeded 26th overall with a time of 51.22.

Reed will join McGinnis in the 100-free and will also take to the blocks in the 200-free. Reed is seeded 14th overall in the shorter freestyle swim with an entry time of 50.65. The Kentucky native holds the 43rd seed in the 200-free with an entry time of 1:53.04.

Pulskamp is among the field in both butterfly events. She holds the 25th overall seed in the 100-fly with a time of 1:01.05. Pulskamp?s 200-fly time is derived from her short course swim and she is seeded 49th with a time of 2:00.42.

The U.S. Open will serve as the selection meet for the 2009 World University Games, to be held from July 2-7, 2009, in Belgrade, Serbia. The highest placing athlete in each event who will be enrolled as a full-time university student through Jan. 1, 2009 will to be invited to the World University Games Team.

The meet will follow the traditional schedule of morning prelims and evening finals with the morning sessions starting each day at 9 a.m. CT and evening finals beginning at 6 p.m. CT.

Updates on each of the Wildcat swimmers will also be posted on UKathletics.com.