March 19, 2009

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Junior Chelsey Bower placed 35th of 63 in the 50 freestyle Thursday at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships hosted by Texas A&M University. Bower (Bethel Park, Pa.) became the first Bobcat to swim at the NCAA Championships since Kim van Selm did so in 2001.

Bower touched in 22.58 in her preliminary heat, just one-tenth of a second off her lifetime-best, school-record and qualifying time of 22.48, which she set in the prelims of the 50 free at the MAC Championships, an event she went on to win. The 2009 First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection entered the National Championships as the 38th seed, but improved three spots at the meet to finish 35th. Bower’s time was the third-fastest of seven swimmers from mid-major conferences, including Miami’s Alyson Schmidt, who placed 61st in a time of 23.15, the only other MAC swimmer in the event.

“Overall, we thought it was a solid first swim for her first NCAA Championships,” Ohio head coach Greg Werner said. “We were hoping for a lifetime best, but it was certainly a good performance and we got a lot of positives out of it. We felt like we could’ve made up a bit of time on the turn and she missed a bit on her touch, but she had a good start and closed strong.”

Bower did not qualify for tonight’s 50 free finals, which takes place at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local), but will swim again Saturday, as she qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100 free, as well. Lara Jackson, from the University of Arizona, swam the top prelim time in the 50 free with a 21.75 and will be the top seed in tonight’s 50 free finals.

“(Assistant coach) Brian (Peresie), who’s been working with Chelsey a lot, feels like he’s got her more geared for the 100 free, so we feel good about today and that she moved up a few spots based on her seed, but we hope she’s even better in the 100,” Werner said. “We’re excited for her prospects in 100 free.”

Bower swims in the 100 free Saturday, March 21, with the day’s prelims beginning at 12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. local) and the finals at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local). She enters the 100 free meet as the 41st seed, after swimming a school-record time of 49.16 in the MAC 100 free finals Feb. 28, where she finished second, just .18 out of first. Seventy swimmers will compete for the 100 free NCAA crown, with only seven hailing from mid-majors, including Miami's Schmidt.

The NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships began today and run through Saturday, March 21, with all events taking place at the Aggies’ Student Recreation Center Natatorium. Live results for the Championships can be found here.