July 16, 2000

EVANSTON, Ill. - Three swimmers with Northwestern ties -- graduates Courtney Allen and Amy Balcerzak, and sophomore-to-be Rachel Johnson -- advanced to consolation and championship finals at the Janet Evans Invitational over the weekend in Los Angeles.

The Janet Evans meet is part of USA Swimming's Cadillac Challenge Swim Series, a collection of competitions staged to prep the nation's top athletes for next month's Olympic Trials.

Balcerzak, who won the 100-meter breaststroke in a Cadillac Series meet a few weeks ago in Santa Clara, was second in the event this time around. The recent graduate clocked 1:10.28 to finish behind Staciana Stitts. Ironically, Balcerzak and Stitts tied for second at the NCAA Championships in this event in March.

Balcerzak also competed in the 200-meter breaststroke, and after missing advancement to the championship final by a mere .05 seconds in the morning she placed second in the consolation final. Her time was 2:38.25.

Allen finished sixth in the championship final of the 50-meter freestyle, clocking 25.84 seconds, and was fourth in the consolation final of the 100-meter freestyle in 57.60 seconds.

Johnson, who will be a sophomore this year, placed seventh in the consolation final of the 400 individual medley. Her time was 5:02.91.

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