June 29, 2008

OMAHA, NEB. - Rising sophomore Tyler Harris of Richmond, Va., and 2001 Tar Heel alumna Erika Acuff Erndl, both turned in school record-setting performances on the first day of the 2008 United States Swimming Olympic Trials at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., Sunday afternoon.

Harris, a 2008 NCAA All-America in the 400-yard individual medley, took a 12th-place finish in the 400-meter individual medley in 4:21.99, significantly better than his previous best career time of 4:25.34. Harris shattered the previous long course school record in the event which was 4:25.29 established by Yann deFabrique at the U.S. Open in 1992. Harris improved 11 spots on his seed position on the pre-meet psych sheet which was 23rd. The time was also good enough for the Virginia State U.S.S. Senior Men's Record.

In the women's 400-meter individual medley, 2001 Tar Heel alumnus Erika Acuff Erndl blazed to a 16th-place finish in 4:47.06, breaking the long course school record of 4:48.00 set by Polly Winde Surhoff in 1983 at the U.S. Trials for the World Swimming Championships that year. Erndl was seeded No. 56 in the event but moved up 40 places to grab her 16th-place finish. At age 30, she is the oldest of the Tar Heels competing at the meet. Erndl's seed time was 4:53.74.

Harris and Erndl are amongst 28 former, current and future Tar Heel swimmers competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials this week.

Rising junior Alison Clemens of Staten Island, N.Y., placed 45th in the 400 IM, improving 23 places on her seeded spot. Clemens went a personal best 4:54.01 in the event, shaving .82 of a second off her seed time.

Other Tar Heels competing on Sunday included Andy Brake (52nd in the 400 IM at 4:33.19); Kerianne McAfee (117th in the 100 fly at 1:02.83); Chip Peterson (31st in the 400-meter freestyle at 3:56.98); Hank Browning (66th in the 400-meter freestyle at 4:06.64); and Laura Moriarty (76th in the 400 IM at 5:01.08).