April 5, 2005

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Giordan Pogioli has been invited to join Team USA for the World University Games following a fifth-place finish in the 200-meter breaststroke Tuesday night at the World Championships Trials.

The World University Games take place in Izmir, Turkey, from Aug. 11 to 21. Pogioli will be joined in this event by Indiana's Kevin Swander and Stanford's Gary Marshall.

Purdue women's head coach Cathy Wright-Eger also will be at the World University Games, serving as a manager for Team USA. She also served in this capacity for the 2003 games in Daegu, South Korea.

Pogioli posted a personal record of 2:16.88, topping his previous best of 2:17.00, registered at last year's Olympic Trials. His prelim time from this morning was 2:17.87.

"I was expecting for him to swim a little bit faster, but we accomplished our goal of getting to the World University Games," said Purdue men's head coach Dan Ross, who received the good news about an hour after Pogioli's race.

Brendan Hansen of Texas finished far ahead of the pack with a mark of 2:10.20. Wyoming's Scott Usher finished second at 2:13.46 and Swander was third at 2:15.84. Sixteen-year-old John Criste placed fourth in 2:16.62.

Hansen is the world record holder in this event with a time of 2:09.04, which he posted in July of 2004.

Prior to leaving for Turkey in August, Pogioli will train with Team USA in Colorado Springs, Colo., the last weekend of April.

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