May 7, 2008

SEVILLE, SPAIN - University of North Carolina freshman swimmer Joe Kinderwater of Lancaster, Pa. took a Top 15 finish Tuesday in his first world championship appearance in Seville, Spain. The standout freshman swam in the 5th FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships Tuesday in the men's five-kilometer event. UNC assistant coach Catherine Vogt served as head coach of the United States team for the competition.

Kindwater finished 15th in the event with a time of 55 minutes, 21.0 seconds. It was his first swim in a World Championship open water event after qualifying for the U.S. Team with a third place finish at last year's national championships. Kinderwater finished 23.7 seconds behind champion Thomas Lurz of Germany. The other U.S. entry, Chad La Tourette of California, was fourth, 7.2 seconds behind Lurz.