March 22, 2002

AUSTIN, Texas - Senior Lorena Diaconescu took 22nd place in the prelims of the 200 freestyle at the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas on Friday afternoon. Her time of 1:48.25 is a tie for 22nd place with Wisconsin's Sarah McCauley. The top 16 swimmers compete in the evening finals and consolation finals and earn All-American honors.

Arizona's Sarah Tolar has the top time going into the finals at 1:45.97.

Diaconescu is a two-time All-American in the 200 freestyle, taking 13th in 2001 and sixth in 2000. Her best time in the 200 freestyle is a Mountain West Conference record holding time of 1:46.59.

Diaconescu withdrew from Thursday's 200 IM to better prepare for the 100 and 200 freestyle events. She will swim the 100 freestyle on Saturday.