TOWSON'S BUDNER AND GOLDEN QUALIFY FOR 2012 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

TOWSON'S BUDNER AND GOLDEN QUALIFY FOR 2012 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

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TOWSON, Md. - Seniors Meredith Budner (Walter Johnson H.S./Rockville, Md.) and Brooke Golden (New Windsor, Md.) of the Towson University women's swimming and diving team have qualified to compete at the 2012 United States Swimming Olympic Trials.

The 2012 United States Swimming Olympic Trials will be held from June 25 to July 2, 2012 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

"Both Meredith and Brooke should take pride in knowing their hard work and dedication has culminated in this tremendous honor," Towson Coach Pat Mead said.

One of the top swimmers in Towson University history, Budner qualified for the Olympic Trials in three different events after participating in the U.S. Long Course Nationals this summer. She posted a time of 4:18.50 in the 400-meter freestyle, which ranks as the 67th-fastest time among the Olympic Trials qualifiers. In addition, she recorded a time of 2:18.75 in the 200-meter individual medley and qualified for the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:55.64.

A nine-time Colonial Athletic Association champion, Budner earned All-CAA notice in six different events at last year's CAA Championships, including the 500-yard freestyle, 1650-yard freestyle, 400-yard individual medley, 400-yard freestyle relay, 800-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard medley relay.

Honored as Towson University's Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year, Budner earned All-America honors in two events at the 2010 NCAA Championships. She finished sixth in the 1650-yard freestyle and had an eighth-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle. A member of the CAA's 25th Anniversary Team, Budner led the Tigers to their third consecutive CAA title and was named as the CAA Swimmer of the Week four times.

"Meredith Budner has been one of our most versatile swimmers over the past four years," Coach Mead said. "Qualifying in three events is a remarkable accomplishment and I know there is still so much room for improvement in her long course swimming.

"She has the ability to be in the top eight in multiple events at the 2012 Olympic Trials and I am very proud of her accomplishments," he added.

Golden qualified for the Olympic Trials in a pair of events when she competed at the U.S. Long Course Nationals this summer. She posted a time of 8:46.87 in the 800-meter freestyle, which ranks 24th among the qualifiers, along with earning a spot in the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:15.50.

A three-year letter winner for the Tigers, Golden is the school record holder in the 200-yard butterfly and helped the Tigers set the school record in the 800-yard freestyle relay. The Tigers' second-leading scorer at the CAA Championships as a sophomore, she earned All-CAA honors in three events last year, including the 500-yard freestyle, the 1650-yard freestyle and the 800-yard freestyle relay.

"Brooke Golden has been one of our hardest working student-athletes over the last four years," Coach Mead said. "It is a great accomplishment for her and her family to have the opportunity to swim at the 2012 Olympic Trials.

"Brooke could easily find herself in the top eight at the Olympic Trials if she continues improving the way she did this summer," Coach Mead added. "It will be an exciting year as she finishes her NCAA eligibility this year."