July 29, 2008

• DeSelm Talks UNC Swimming & Diving

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.-The North Carolina men's and women's swimming team had a successful opening day of competition at the U.S. Open Tuesday sponsored by United States Swimming at the University of Minnesota's Aquatics Center. Senior Whitney Sprague set a school long course record while finishing as the runner-up in the 800-meter freestyle while sophomores Chip Peterson and Joe Kinderwater also posted Top 5 individual finishes.

Sprague, from Bronxville, N.Y., finished second in the 800-meter freestyle after going in as the No. 3 seed. She swam a time of 8:39.15 Tuesday, besting her own previous school long course record of 8:40.16 set early this month at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Peterson and Kinderwater virtually matched their seeds in the 1500-meter freestyle in finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. Peterson took fourth with a time of 15:21.12 while Kinderwater was one spot behind Peterson in fifth with a time of 15:23.28, just off his personal best of 15:21.84 set earlier in July at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Peterson was significantly faster than earlier this month at the Olympic Trials when he went 15:27.17 while still recovering from a recent illness that had limited his training. But Tuesday the sophomore was much closer to his usual form in one of his best events.

Sophomore Tyler Harris pulled a double Tuesday and finished 13th in both the 200-meter butterfly and the 200-meter breaststroke, setting career best times in both events. In the 200 fly, Harris qualified 15th in the prelims at 2:01.85, taking .66 off his career best of 2:02.51. Harris moved up two spots to 13th in the "B" final although he had a slower time at 2:02.46.

In the 200 breast, Harris again was the No. 15 qualifier at 2:19.93. He then went on to move up to 13th in the "B" final on about 30 minutes rest, going a career best 2:19.50. His previous best time was a 2:19.74. Harris improved significantly on his seeds in both events. He came in as the No. 28 seed in the 200 fly and the No. 24 seed in the 200 breast.

Freshman Layne Brodie and senior Brad Mitchell also competed in the 200-meter breaststroke with Brodie going 2:38.80 to finish No. 31 in the women's event. Mitchell swam a 2:29.07 to finish 40th on the men's side.