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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Auburn’s Ava Ohlgren secured a spot on the U.S. National Team for the 2009 World University Games on Wednesday night as she won the 400m individual medley at the 2008 U.S. Open.

After finishing second in the morning preliminary, Ohlgren shaved more than five seconds off her time to swim a 4:43.30 in the final to earn the win.

The U.S. Open is being used as a selection meet for the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia. By winning the event, Ohlgren becomes the first choice to represent the United States at the meet.

On the men’s side, rising sophomore Robert Looney also made the finals as he earned the win in the C Final of the 400m IM to finish 17th overall. Looney touched in with a 4:24.52 in the final heat, cutting more than eight seconds off his seed time for the meet.

Rising senior Emile Ewing posted her top performance of the meet so far as she made the championship final in the women’s 200m backstroke. The Madisonville, Ky., native timed a 2:15.75 in the event to finish eighth overall.

Also competing in the women’s 200m back was Birmingham native Julie Golden. She touched in with a 2:24.33 in the preliminary to finish 56th overall in the event.

In the men’s 200m back, it was Auburn signee Max Murphy earning his way into the finals after he finished 20th in the prelims. He came back in the evening to finish sixth in the C Final, 22nd overall, with a time of 2:05.58.

Former Auburn swimmer Bryan Lundquist was also in action Wednesday, swimming in the 100m freestyle. Lundquist finished second in the B Final to finish 10th overall in the event with a time of 50.44.