Special to the News

OMAHA, Neb. — Five current and former Auburn swimmers advanced in Tuesday’s preliminaries at the 2008 Olympic Swimming Team Trials at the Qwest Center.

Rising junior Ava Ohlgren had the top performance of the session, finishing fourth in the women’s 200m individual medley preliminary.

Ohlgren’s fourth-place preliminary performance is the top swim so far for a current Auburn swimmer. She clocked a 2:12.28 in the prelim, finishing barely more than a quarter of a second behind top seed Katie Hoff (2:12.02).

Also advancing in the 200m IM was former Tiger Julie Stupp, as she finished eighth in the prelim with a 2:13.97.

Emily Kukors finished 19th in the prelim, missing the semifinals by less than a half second as she came in with a 2:16.13. She was followed by Erica Meissner (34th, 2:18.28), Auburn signee Kelsey Winters (41st, 2:18.82), Melanie Roberts (51st, 2:19.16) and Emile Ewing (81st, 2:20.96).

For Meissner, her 34th-place finish marked her second impressive swim in as many days. She entered the 200m IM as the No. 119 seed, but shaved more than two seconds off her time to move up 85 spots. She posted a similar performance Monday, moving up from 115th to 16th in the 100m backstroke, shaving more than two seconds off her seed time.

In the men’s 200m butterfly, current Tigers Tyler McGill and Robert Looney earned their way into their first semifinals of the meet. McGill touched in with a 1:59.75 to take 14th in the prelim, but Looney was right behind him, clocking a 15th-place 1:59.81.

Also advancing was former Auburn swimmer Andrew Callahan as he finished 13th with a 1:59.70.

Others swimming in the men’s 200m fly were Andrew Mitchell (22nd, 2:00.88), Will Dove (26th, 2:01.25), Logan Madson (34th, 2:01.76) and Mark Johnson (51st, 2:02.83).

In the women’s 200m free, Kukors again missed out on a semifinal appearance by less than a half second, finishing the prelim in 19th with a 2:00.40. Also swimming in the prelim were Margo McCawley (39th, 2:01.80), Ewing (80th, 2:03.82), Julie Golden (85th, 2:04.07), Melissa Marik (86th, 2:04.10) and Caitlin Geary (101st, 2:06.60).

Action in the Olympic Trials continues tonight at 7 p.m. on the USA Network. On the program are finals in the men’s 200m free, women’s 100m back, men’s 100m back and women’s 100m breast.

Former Auburn swimmer and 2004 Olympian Margaret Hoelzer will be swimming for an Olympic berth as she enters the 100m back as the No. 3 seed.
Also on tap are semifinals in the women’s 200m free, men’s 200m fly and women’s 200m IM.

TUESDAY’S PRELIMINARY RESULTS
MEN
200m Butterfly
Preliminary — 79 competitors
13 — Andrew Callahan — 1:59.70
14 — Tyler McGill — 1:59.75
15 — Robert Looney — 1:59.81
22 — Andrew Mitchell — 2:00.88
26 — Will Dove — 2:01.25
34 — Logan Madson — 2:01.76
51 — Mark Johnson — 2:02.83

WOMEN
200m Freestyle
Preliminary — 103 competitors
19 — Emily Kukors — 2:00.40
39 — Margo McCawley — 2:01.80
80 — Emile Ewing — 2:03.82
85 — Julie Golden — 2:04.07
86 — Melissa Marik — 2:04.10
101 — Caitlin Geary — 2:06.60

200m Individual Medley
Preliminary — 106 competitors
4 — Ava Ohlgren — 2:12.28
8 — Julie Stupp — 2:13.97
19 — Emily Kukors — 2:16.13
34 — Erica Meissner — 2:18.28
41 — Kelsey Winters — 2:18.82
51 — Melanie Roberts — 2:19.16
81 — Emile Ewing — 2:20.96