Hurley, U.S. Team Off to Short Course World Championships

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Virginia swimmer Ryan Hurley is one of 25 United States swimmers set to compete in the 2008 FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships. The event is set for Wednesday through Sunday in Manchester, England. Hurley will compete in the 200-meter breaststroke.

Hurley joins Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte on the U.S. team in addition to 2004 Olympians Margaret Hoelzer, Larsen Jensen, Rachel Komisarz and Mark Gangloff.

Competition begins Wednesday with prelims starting at 10 a.m. local time and finals beginning at 5:45 p.m. The first day of events feature the men’s 200-meter free, 100 back, 100 breast, 100 fly and 400 free relay and the women’s 50-meter breast, 200 fly, 100 back, 400 IM and 800 free relay.

The U.S. swimmers selected to compete at the Short Course World Championships were chosen based upon their performance at the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming Short Course National Championships, which were held Nov. 29 through Dec. 1. Hurley finished third at the national championships in the 200 breast, clocking a time of 1:57.59.

Hurley, a senior who is redshirting the 2007-08 season, was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer in both the 100 and 200 breaststoke events last season and also competed at the NCAA Championships for the third straight year.

Hurley, along with Virginia teammate Pat Mellors, was named to the U.S. National Team in October. The Potomac, Md., native earned the silver medal in the 200 breast at the 2007 World University Games this summer.

For more information about the meet, including a link to results, the official Manchester Web site and daily wrap-ups, visit USA Swimming’s special FINA World Swimming Championships section online.