March 17, 2006

With a personal-best and school-record time of 1:00.55 in the 100-yard breaststroke, Florida Atlantic University's Ellie Weberg placed fourth in the nation at the NCAA Championships held in Athens, GA on Friday night. Weberg bettered her personal best by almost a second and earned All-America status with her finish.

In the prelims of the event, she swam a 1:00.72 to finish fourth and advance to the championship final.

A junior from Bloomington, MN, Weberg is participating in her second NCAA Championships. She swam both the 100- and 200-yard breast her freshman season and returned to swim the same events this year.

The University of California's Jessica Hardy won the event with a time of 1:00.02 and the top-three finishers were Olympians for their respective countries.

"Ellie swam very well," said head coach Steve Eckelkamp. "I am really excited about her chances in the 200-yard breaststroke because I consider that her best event."

On Saturday, Weberg will compete in the 200-yard breaststroke. The prelims will take place at 11 a.m. with the finals scheduled for 7 p.m. at Gabrielsen Natatorium on the campus of the University of Georgia.