Aug. 7, 2003

Two members of the University of Missouri swim team have qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials after impressive showings at this week's U.S. Summer National Championships in College Park, Md. MU senior Rebecca Wolfe and junior Matt North each recorded top-15 finishes and are the first Tiger swimmers to score at the U.S. Nationals in nearly 20 years.

Wolfe, representing the Mizzou swim team, finished 12th place in the 200-meter fly with a time of 2:14.63, which was more than two seconds under the Olympic Trial cut. She is a two-time Big 12 Conference Champion and a three-time NCAA Championships qualifier and has been attending the U.S. Summer Nationals since she was 13 years old.

"This is an accumulation of years of work for Rebecca," Missouri Head Coach Brian Hoffer said. "Her commitment to the sports and her focus has always remained the same and it continues to pay off for her."

North was swimming in only his second U.S. Nationals and was representing his home club team, the St. Charles (Ill.) Swim Team. He took 14th place in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:19.55.

"Matt is really making a name for himself," Hoffer said. "The improvement that he has made in the past two years is dramatic. For him to do this well in only his second trip to nationals is a remarkable accomplishment."

The U.S. Olympic Trials will take place next July in Long Beach, Calif.