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Olympic Medalists Headline Erik Namesnik Grand Prix May 17-20
By Jamie Fabos // USA Swimming // May 7, 2007
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The world-record-setting trio of Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.), Katie Hoff (Towson, Md.) and Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) lead an accomplished field of swimmers set to compete in the Erik Namesnik Grand Prix May 17-20, 2007 in Ann Arbor, Mich. The meet will feature morning finals and evening heats, paralleling the planned schedule for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
The event will be held at the Canham Natatorium on the campus of the University of Michigan. Several members of the 2007 U.S. Pan American Games and 2007 World University Games teams will participate in the meet in preparation for their upcoming international competitions. Among them are 2004 Olympic gold-medalist Kaitlin Sandeno (Lake Forest, Calif.) and 2003 Pan American gold medalist Robert Margalis (St. Petersburg, Fla.). The Pan American Games will take place July 14-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while the World University Games will take place Aug. 8-18 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Toyota Grand Prix Series serves as an opportunity for athletes to race against top-notch competition as they continue their preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Complete meet information is available at usaswimming.org/media. Media wishing to cover the event should submit the online credential request form or contact Jamie Fabos no later than May 14.
WHO: Members of the 2007 World Championship Team Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Katie Hoff, Mary DeScenza and Kim Vandenberg, as well as 2004 Olympian Kaitlin Sandeno.
WHAT: Erik Namesnik Grand Prix, the third stop in the 2007 Toyota Grand Prix Series.
WHEN: May 17-20, 2007. The event order mirrors the planned schedule for the Olympic Games in Beijing. Prelims will begin at 4:30 p.m. (Thurs-Sat.), with finals starting at 9 a.m. (Fri.-Sun.).
WHERE: University of Michigan Canham Natatorium - 500 E Hoover Avenue, Ann Arbor, Mich.
WHY: The Toyota Grand Prix Series exists in order to provide U.S. National Team and other elite swimmers with the opportunity to compete at a high level and prepare for the championship period of the season. There are seven stops total on the 2007 calendar.
National Team athletes will be preparing for three major meets this summer including the Pan American Games (July 14-21), ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships (July 31-Aug. 4) and World University Games (August 8-18).
About USA Swimming
As the National Governing Body for competitive swimming in the United States, USA Swimming formulates the rules, implements policies and procedures, conducts national championships, disseminates safety and sports medicine information and selects athletes to represent the United States in international competition. USA Swimming has more than 300,000 members nationwide and sanctions more than 7,000 events each year. For more information, visit http://www.usaswimming.org/.
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