Passages: NCAA Champion, USA Swimming National Teamer Lorraine Perkins, 42

TAMPA, Florida, February 11. FORMER USA Swimming national team member Lorraine Perkins passed away Sunday evening after a long battle with cancer. She was 42.

Perkins was a standout swimmer at the University of Florida in the Randy Reese era, from 1987 to 1991. Her collegiate career was highlighted by three NCAA titles in the 200 medley relay (1988, 1989, 1990) and the 400 medley relay (1988). Individually, her highest finish at the NCAA championships was second in the 100 backstroke in 1988, her freshman year. She would also appear in the final of the 100 back at the next three NCAA championships.

As a 100 backstroker, Perkins was selected to compete at the 1991 Pan American Games, and also participated in that event at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Trials.

Perkins was diagnosed with stage four melanoma cancer in 2007, and during her treatment, swam the half mile at the Swim Across America open water event on May 5 in her hometown of Tampa.

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