March 25, 2006

ATLANTA, GA. - North Carolina freshman Hank Browning of Cincinnati, Ohio, swam his career best time in the 1650-yard freestyle as the Tar Heel men's swimming and diving team earned a 41st place NCAA finish in the 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships at the Georgia Tech Olympic Aquatic Center.

Browning finished 19th Saturday night in the 1650-yard freestyle with a career best time of 15:10.75. Browning's previous career best time was a clocking of 15:17.59 at the ACC Championships last month.

Browning's time moves him into third place in UNC history in the event. He trails only Yuri Suguiyama who went 15:05.10 in 2003 and James Hamrick who was clocked in 15:07.36 in 1993.

As a team North Carolina tied for 41st place out of the 49 teams that scored at the championship meet. UNC scored five team points and tied with Florida Atlantic, Louisville and BYU for 41st place.

Browning finished 12th Thursday in the 500-yard freestyle and in the process was named an honorable mention All-America.