UNC junior Ashley Howard went 2:15.09 to better her career best by 1.69 seconds.

July 4, 2008

OMAHA, NEB. - The sixth day of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at Omaha's Qwest Center featured a school-recording smashing performance from rising senior Whitney Sprague along with a career best from rising junior Ashley Howard. Sprague swam a time of 8:40.16 in the 800-meter free and posted UNC's best individual finish of the trials with 11th place. Sprague missed a spot in the finals by only 2.51 seconds.

Sprague, a senior from Bronxville, N.Y., also held the previous UNC school record at the long course distance with an 8:44.09 set at the 2007 U.S. Swimming Senior National Championships. She shaved 3.93 seconds off her previous mark.

All four UNC swimmers in action Friday improved upon their seeded positions going into the competition. Sprague was the No. 29 seed in her event.

Ashley Howard, a junior from Durham, went a career best 2:15.09 in the 200-meter backstroke to place 29th, well above her No. 51 seed. Howard took 1.69 seconds off her previous personal best of 2:16.76.

Incoming freshman Steve Cebertowicz improved his seed by two spots by finishing 100th in the 50-meter freestyle at 23.68 and rising sophomore Tommy Wyher placed 95th (up from 108) in the 100-meter butterfly in 55.88.

UNC's final four entries swim Saturday -- Rebecca Kane and Kelsey Morrissy in the 50-meter free and Joe Kinderwater and Chip Peterson in the 1500-meter free.