Swimming and Diving Send Seven Athletes to NCAAs

March 10, 2011

The University of Louisville women's and men's swimming and diving teams will send seven Cardinal swimmers into the post season as the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Committee announced the participants in the 2011 NCAA Division I Championships.

In addition to the swimmers, four U of L divers advanced to the NCAA Zone Diving Meet to seek a berth in the finals.

"In our sport is a sport measured by hundreths of a second so we are glad to be qualified seven swimmers as well as our three divers. More than anything, this is a group that has a balance of experience and youth but definitely a group that will compete and score points at the NCAAs," said Arthur Albiero, "Overall, it is our best group ever to go to the NCAAs especially on the men's side. "

For the Cardinals, Carlos Almeida, Brendon Andrews, Therese Bergstrom, Alex Burtch, Kameron Chastain, Joao De Lucca, and Pedro Oliveira will all advance to the NCAAs. Divers Hannah Gadd, Cameron Dehn, Lindsey Stephens and David Zamkov will compete at the NCAA Zones. Swimmers who are invited can also swim in their B-Cut qualifications.

The women's championships will be held March 17-19 at the Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas. The University of Texas at Austin will serve as the host. A total of 322 participants will compete in the championships. Student-athletes qualified for the swimming portion of the championships by meeting the established minimum time for the events in which they entered. Divers will be determined by performances achieved at the Zone Diving meets March 10-13.

The men's championships will be held March 24-26 at the University Aquatics Center in Minneapolis, Minn. The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities will serve as the host. A total of 270 participants will compete in the championships. Student-athletes qualified for the swimming portion of the championships by meeting the established minimum time for the events in which they entered. Divers will be determined by performances achieved at the Zone Diving meets March 10-13. Selected divers will be added to the website on Monday, March 14.

In this sport that can be decided literally in the blink of an eye, the University of Louisville women's team had three athletes and a relay team be edged out from the post season. Giselle Kohoyda missed the cut for the 200-breast by .04 of a second. Raine Thompson was edged by .15 of a second in the 100-fly and Aileen Cole missing the 100-free by .13 and .16 in the 50-free. The 200-medley relay team missed the cut by .10.

"This meet has gotten insanely fast," said Albiero. "It is one of the deepest meet, top to bottom that you could find anywhere."

ESPN3.com will stream finals sessions on Friday and Saturday. Additionally, ESPN2 will air a 90-minute show Wednesday, April 6 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Louisville Selections

Zone Divers Cameron Dehn, Hannah Gadd, Lindsey Stephens and David Zamkov

Almeida, Carlos M Junior

100 BR SCY 53.36

800 FR-R SCY 6:23.23

200 BR SCY 1:54.98

Andrews, Brendon M Junior

100 BK SCY 46.94

800 FR-R SCY 6:23.23

100 FR SCY 43.17