Dec. 9, 2002

MINNEAPOLIS, MN... Five members of the George Mason swimming and diving team competed in the U.S. Open this past weekend at the University of Minnesota, with junior Lauren Stinnett (Reston, VA/South Lakes) providing the biggest Patriot highlight.

In the championship final of the 200-meter butterfly, Stinnett finished second in 2:14.25, a time good enough for her to make the cut for the NCAA Championship and the 2004 Olympic Trials. She also finished eighth in the championship finals of both the 100-meter butterfly (1:04.09) and the 200-meter backstroke (2:21.95).

For the men, senior Cameron Charlton (Springfield, Ontario) finished fifth in the 100-meter breaststroke championship final (1:05.85) and was sixth in the championship final of the 200-meter breaststroke (2:22.48).

Tim Norton (Virginia Beach, VA/Norfolk Christian), a freshman, was 11th in the consolation final of the 400-meter IM (4:37.66) and was 20th in the bonus final of the 200-meter backstroke (2:10.56)

Sophomore Christy Anderson (Caledon East, Ontario) and senior Wes Ebanks (St. Charles, IL/St. Charles) also competed for Mason.

"We took five athletes up to the meet, and all of them competed very well," said Patriot head coach Peter Ward. "It was great to see them be so competitive against an international field in a 50-meter pool."