CONTACT: Lori Hultin LSH Communications for Conejo Simi Aquatics (818) 879-4651 [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CSA Alumnus, , Earns World Record at FINA Short Course World Championships Former CSA and Current Swimmer Anchors World-Record Setting 4x100 Medley Relay

Simi Valley, CA. – April 14, 2008 – Conejo Simi Aquatics (CSA), a premier aquatics club serving the Simi and Conejo Valley areas, today announced that one of its most accomplished alumni, Kara Denby, a Senior at Auburn University, was part of the world-record setting 4x100 Medley Relay team at the 9th annual FINA Short Course World Championships held in Manchester, England, April 9-13. Kara swam the anchor freestyle leg of the Gold medal-winning relay team that also included 2004 Olympians Margaret Hoelzer () and (butterfly) and Olympic hopeful and National team competitor, Jessica

Hardy (breaststroke). The women bested the previous world record by nearly half a second, the relay in a time of 3:51.36 (short course meters).

In addition to setting a World record at the meet, Kara finished fifth in the100m freestyle finals, and her time of 53.00 made her the highest-ranking American in the event.

Kara was selected to compete at the Short Course World Championships based upon her performance at the USA Swimming Short Course Nationals in November of 2007. Kara will be competing at the 2008 USA Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, beginning June

29th, hoping to earn a spot on the USA Olympic Team.

“We are all excited for Kara and proud of the many accomplishments she has achieved throughout her swimming career – first at CSA, then with the Auburn Tigers, and now as part of a USA Swimming team that has set a world record,” said Jon Irwin, board president for CSA. “Kara embodies all the characteristics of a champion and demonstrates the kind of excellence we strive for at CSA.”

Kara is a 17-time All-American, was part of the 2007 NCAA National Championship swim team and helped take the Auburn Tigers to their second national championship in a row in 2007. During her Junior year at Auburn, her time of 48.04 in the 100 freestyle preliminaries at NCAAs set a new Auburn team record.

While swimming for CSA, Kara qualified for and swam at the 2004 Olympic Trials, placing 28th in the 50 freestyle, 32nd in the 100 freestyle and 34th in the 200 IM. She also finished fourth in the 100 freestyle and ninth in the 50 freestyle at that year’s 2004 Summer

Nationals and was the 2003 Junior National Champion in the 50 and 100 freestyles.

About Conejo Simi Aquatics Conejo Simi Aquatics (CSA) is a full-service, community-based aquatics club serving the Simi and Conejo Valley areas of Southern California. Since its founding in 1973, CSA has offered a variety of programs for student-athletes at all levels – from beginning age group to elite, national-caliber swimmers. CSA has been recognized for its consistently successful programs, resulting in athletes that have competed in Olympic Trials, National and Junior

National competitions and Section championships. CSA is proud to be part of Southern

California Swimming and to be a USA Swimming Silver Medal team. For more information, please visit the CSA website at www.csaswim.com.

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