Dec. 3, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina swimming and diving returns to the pool this week as the Gamecocks head to Auburn, Ala. for the Auburn Invitational. The meet is scheduled from December 4-6 and will be run in the same format as the NCAA Championships. Competing along with South Carolina and Auburn will be Ohio State and Michigan State with former collegiate swimmers from Alabama, Tennessee, Florida State and Auburn also participating.

“I’ve ben really pleased with our swimmers steady improvement throughout the season,” said USC head coach Don Gibb. “In my five seasons here at Carolina, this is the most enthused I have been going into a meet. Moral is high and I think they have done a great job focusing on their training, conditioning and becoming better swimmers. This is a tremendous opportunity for our team to compete against some of the best swimmers in the nation. We hope to get several swimmers in position for the NCAA Championships.”

The preliminary competition will be long course (meters) with the finals being run in short course (yards). The 2004 NCAA Championships will also be long course (meters). The NCAA Championships are held in long course every four seasons as athletes prepare and train for the Summer Olympics.

“The benefit of swimming long course is it gives our swimmers a chance to qualify not only for the NCAA Championships but also the U.S. Olympic Trials,” said Coach Gibb.

Preliminary competition on Thursday and Friday begins at 10 a.m. CT with the finals set for 6 p.m. CT. Saturday’s prelims begin at 9:30 a.m. CT with the finals starting at 5:30 p.m. CT. This is the second consecutive season that the Gamecocks have competed at the Auburn Invitational. Carolina returns home next week as the Gamecocks host the Carolina Classic from Thursday, December 11- Saturday December 13.