March 15, 2002

LAS VEGAS - Four Rebel swimmers, Lorena Diaconescu, Andrew Livingston, David Schick and Jacint Simon, earned a berth into the 2002 NCAA Swimming Championships.

The women's championships are held in Austin, Texas from March 21-23, while the men's championships will take place in Athens, Georgia, from March 28-30.

Diaconescu is swimming for her third straight All-America honors, while Livingston is going for his fourth. Simon looks to repeat his 2001 performance, while Schick swims in the national championship for the first time. The top 16 finishers in each event receive All-America honors.

Livingston's best chance at a fourth All-America honor is in the 200 butterfly, which he enters with the fourth fastest time at 1:44.41. He and Schick will both compete in the 100 butterfly. Schick (47.90) enters with the 26th fastest time in the 43-man field, with Livingston (48.26) enters with the 35th fastest time.

Livingston took fifth in the 200 fly at the 1999 and 2001 championships, and 13th in 2000.

Simon will swim the 200 freestyle and enters with the 19th fastest time at 1:36.88. He will also swim the 100 free with the 53rd fastest time (44.70).

Simon earned All-America honors at the 2000 championships in the 200 free and 200 and 400 free relays.

Diaconescu will compete in three events this year, the 200 IM and both the 100 and 200 freestyle events. Her time of 2:02.63 places her 45th on the 200 IM psych sheets, while she holds the 11th (1:46.88) and 36th (50.30) spots respectively in the 200 and 100 free events.

Diaconescu took 13th in the 200 freestyle at last year's championships and sixth in 2000.