July 1, 2008

OMAHA, NEB. - Led by rising sophomore Tyler Harris and 2001 alumna Erika Acuff Erndl, the Tar Heel swimming program enjoyed another good day of finishes at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.

Erndl set two more long course school records Wednesday, adding to the one she set Sunday afternoon in the 400 IM. Long course school records, unlike short course school records, can be set by UNC swimmers who have confirmed their future admittance to Carolina, competitors currently swimming at Carolina or by individuals who are UNC alumni and have continued their swimming careers after their graduations from Carolina.

Erndl went a career best 2:00.47 in the 200-meter freestyle, improving from her 49th place seed to the No. 21 spot, missing a spot in tonight's semifinals by only five places. Erndl's previous career best was 2:01.73. Erndl's time eclipsed the 2:01.56 set by Kari Haag at the 1995 World University Games.

Four Tar Heels competed in the 200-meter individual medley with Erndl going almost two seconds faster than her previous career best, clocking a 2:17.36 to notch 25th place. She came into the race as the No. 58 seed with a time of 2:19.04. Erndl's time now stands as a school record. The old record stood for an amazing 26 years and was held by Tar Heel great Polly Winde Surhoff, who went 2:17.67 at the U.S. Trials for the World Championships in 1982.

Other Tar Heels in the 200 IM included rising junior Alison Clemens who finished 43rd in 2:18.84 as well as two recent high school grads who enroll at UNC this fall. Laura Moriarty finished 100th at 2:23.51 and Sarah Tanner was 101st at 2:23.52.

Finally, rising sophomore Tyler Harris notched his second career best of the meet as he went 2:02.51 to finish 47th in the men's 200-meter butterfly. Harris' old personal best was 2:02.53.