July 5, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Senior swimmer Eric McGinnis will begin competition for the United States at the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia this week. McGinnis is slated to represent the USA in three events.
McGinnis will swim the anchor leg in the 4×100 meter freestyle relay and the freestyle anchor leg of the 4×100 medley relay. His lone individual event will take place on the second to last day of competition in the 50-meter freestyle.
The Raleigh, N.C., native earned his spot on the USA roster last summer at the US Open Championships on August 2, 2008. McGinnis claimed his roster spot after becoming the top American finisher in the 50-freestyle with a time of 22.35.
The US Open determines that the highest placing American athlete in each event who will be enrolled as a full-time university student through Jan. 1, 2009 will be invited to the World University Games Team. McGinnis appeared in the US Open after securing the ninth best American time in the event through a time trial at the US Olympic Trials in July of 2008. In Omaha, McGinnis claimed a then personal-best time with a 22.40 finish which earned him the third overall at the US Open.
McGinnis holds the seventh seed heading into the 25th Universidad in Belgrade this week.
UK’s senior will also be blogging from Serbia for Kentucky’s official website. Follow along with McGinnis at his blog “0 to 60 with McGinnis.” /genrel/072308aab.html
Five Set to Compete at the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships
In addition to McGinnis being in competition this week, the University of Kentucky will send five to the World Championship Trials in Indianapolis July 7-11.
Junior Colin Faris, senior Kyle Greene, junior Chatham Penrod, senior Megan Pulskamp and junior Tyler Reed will all take to the water in Indianapolis vying for a spot on the US team at the World Championships set for later this summer.
Faris is slated for the 50-freestyle and Penrod will see the lanes in the 100-backstroke.
Greene, Pulskamp and Reed will also be among the field in three events. Greene is listed for the 200-free, 100-free and 50-free. Pulskamp is scheduled for the 100-butterfly, 50-free and 100-free. Reed is set for the 400-free, 100-free and 200-free.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for complete up-to-date information regarding the Kentucky swimming and diving teams.
