Bailey Invited to Compete at 2005 NCAA Championships

Nebraska sophomore Lauren Bailey has been invited to compete at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships for the second time in as many years.

Bailey became the first Husker swimmer since 2001 to qualify for the NCAA Championships when she was invited to the event last year as a freshman in the 500-yard freestyle, 1,650-yard freestyle and 400-yard individual medley. The San Mateo, Calif., native will compete in the same events at this year’s championships after setting NCAA provisional-qualifying marks in all three events this season.

Bailey’s career best times in the 500- (4:47.08) and 1,650-yard (16:29.91) freestyle, set at the Big 12 Championships Feb. 23-26, earned her the 29th spot in the seedings in both events for the NCAA Championships. In the 400-yard individual medley, Bailey swam a time of 4:19.50 to qualify for the meet, 38th in the seedings.

Throughout the season, Bailey set 11 NCAA provisional qualifying marks, four each in the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle. She also placed her name in the No. 2 spot on the school’s all-time charts in the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle with the marks set at the Big 12 Championships.

The 2005 NCAA Championships are hosted by Purdue University.  Action kicks off Thursday, March 17 at 11 a.m., and runs through Saturday, March 19 at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center in West Lafayette, Ind.