OLYMPIC CHAMP QUALIFIES FIRST -- March 23, 2000

Arizona State's Attila Czene, the 1996 Olympic champion, qualified first in the 200m individual medley during prelims at the men's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Minneapolis. Czene, a Hungarian, clocked 1:57.03, half a second ahead of the University of Texas's Nate Dusing at 1:58.05.
Georgia senior Beau Wiebel surprised by qualifying third in 1:58.86. Texas's Joe Montague was fourth in 1:58.86
Rounding out the top eight were Kevin Clements, Auburn (1:58.88); Zane deWitz, Tenn. (1:58.97); Jeff Somensatto, Auburn (1:59.270; and Steven Brown, Stanford (1:59.37).
It took a sub-two-minute swim just to make B finals. Qualifying for the B final were Tony Kurth, Mich.; Ryan Lusk, Fla., Rob Canales, Stan., Nick Kaschik, USC; Ben Anderson, Ariz.; Tamas Kerekjarto, USC; Dave Denniston, Aub.; and Heath Edwards, Georgia.