March 27, 2003

AUSTIN, TEXAS - North Carolina junior Yuri Suguiyama clocked a career best Thursday morning in the 500-yard freestyle at the 2003 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming & Diving Championships at the University of Texas. In the process, the Ijamsville, Md. qualified for tonigh's consolation final in the event and assured himself of All-America accolades for the first time in his career.

Suguiyama swam the event in 4:19.92, edging his career best of 4:20.12 set last month at the 2003 Atlantic Coast Conference championships in Chapel Hill. Suguiyama finished 12th in prelims and will swim tonight in the consolation final for places 9 through 16.