July 28, 2000

COLUMBIA, Mo.- University of Missouri sophomore-to-be MATT FERRARELLI came up less than a second short of making the British Olympic Swimming Team at the Olympic Trials in Sheffield, Great Britain on Friday. Ferrarelli, who starred as a freshman on the Missouri swimming and diving team this past year, swam to a time of four minutes, 27.81 seconds in the 400 meter individual medley for a fourth place finish. The second place finisher in the event turned in a time of 4:27.05 while Ferrarelli was edged out for third place at 4:27.73. The top two finishers advance to the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Ferrarelli still has one more shot at an Olympic birth. He will be seeded sixth in the tomorrow's final in the 200-meter individual medley. Ferrarelli posted a semi-final time of 2:07.66. The top two seeds have turned in times of two minutes, 35 seconds.