INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - After setting its second American record in as many days and capturing one event title on the second day of action today at the IUPUI Natatorium, Arizona remains in second place after accumulating 299 points. Defending-champion Georgia continues to lead the team competition with 336.5 points, while Stanford is third (245). California (235.5) and Auburn (169) round out the top five.

The final event of the opening day saw the 800m free relay squad of senior Trina Jackson, sophomore Sarah Tolar, sophomore Jenny Vanker and sophomore Emily Mastin take home the national title, earning 40 points for the team and solidifying their spot in second place after day two. The time was also a U.S. Open record for being the fastest time ever recorded on United States soil.

For the second-straight day the Wildcats enjoyed setting an American record in the morning prelims, as the 200m medley relay squad of freshman Beth Botsford, freshman Amanda Beard, sophomore Amy Bouta and senior Denali Knapp established a new short-course American and U.S. Open record, clocking a time of 1:50.41. The time bettered UA's December, 1999 time of 1:51.87 for both the American mark and the fastest time ever recorded on United States soil.

The morning swim also enabled the Cats to be the top qualifier entering the evening finals session. In the evening finals of the 200m free relay the Wildcats fell short of the title, finishing second (1:49.71). California, who finished first (1:49.23) recorded a world best and American record, but due to the fact that all of California's swimmers were not from the same nation, it will not be recorded as a world or American record time.

Event eight, the 400m individual medley, saw only one Wildcat advance to the consolation finals - sophomore Erin Vogt. In the evening session Vogt picked up six points by finishing 12th (4:45.61).

Although no Cats advanced to the finals of the 100m butterfly either, the consolation finals saw sophomore Maria Papadopoulou finish 13th (1:01.25).

In event 10, the 200m freestyle, Tolar, who finished second in the same event at last year's NCAAs was the runner-up again. Her second-place finish gained 17 points for the Cats. Also scoring for UA in the 200m free finals was Mastin who placed eighth (1:58.96).

In the 100m breaststroke Arizona qualified one competitor for the championship finals and one for the consolation finals. Beard placed fourth in the finals (1:06.95), while sophomore Jessamyn Miller finished 12th in the consolations (1:09.88).

In event No. 12, the 100 backstroke, Arizona boasted three competitors in the championship final, the best among all participating schools. Botsford claimed third place, with a time of 59.34, followed by Knapp in sixth (59.92) and freshman Julie Manitt (eighth place; 1:01.15). In the consolation final senior Rachel Joseph placed 10th, in a time of 1:01.30.

Next, the swimmers took a break while the women's 3-Meter Springboard diving competition took place. Junior Lindsay Berryman placed 18th overall (455.55 points), while junior Adrian David finished (26th; 440.55).

The final day of the NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships begin tomorrow with the prelims set to begin at 11:00 a.m. and the finals slated for 7:00 p.m. (EST).

* NOTE * All of the complete race results for both the preliminary and finals sessions from all three days can be found at the NCAA website: www.ncaachampionships.com