April 4, 2008

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University sophomore Jared Zimmer and senior Adam Brown will compete with some of the best swimmers in the country at the Toyota Grand Prix at The Ohio State University on Saturday and Sunday.

A talented field of top American swimmers, including world record-holders Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) and Natalie Coughlin (Vallejo, Calif.) will compete in two meets on opposite sides of the country April 4-6 during a pair of stops on the Toyota Grand Prix Series.

Phelps will compete at The Toyota Grand Prix at The Ohio State University alongside 2004 Olympians Katie Hoff (Towson, Md.), Brendan Hansen (Havertown, Pa.), Aaron Peirsol (Irvine, Calif.), Kaitlin Sandeno (Lake Forest, Calif.), and Neil Walker (Verona, Wis.). Rounding out the field in Columbus, Ohio are Olympians Erik Vendt (North Easton, Mass.), and 2007 World Championships team members Eric Shanteau (Lilburn, Ga.), and Dan Madwed (Stamford, Conn.).

At the Stanford Invitational Grand Prix in Palo Alto, Calif., Coughlin and 2007 World Championship team member Kim Vandenberg (Moraga, Calif.) will bring a local flavor to the meet as will Stanford alum and 2004 Olympian Tara Kirk (Bremerton, Wash.). The trio will join U.S. Olympians Jason Lezak (Irvine, Calif.) and Klete Keller (Phoenix, Ariz.) at the meet.

Coughlin returns to competition in the Bay Area following a successful showing at The Missouri Grand Prix, the most recent stop on the Toyota Grand Prix Series. The 2004 Olympian broke her own world record in the 100m back and won two silvers and a bronze medal at the event.

The Toyota Grand Prix at The Ohio State University begins on Friday, April 4 with prelim sessions beginning at 9 a.m. ET each day and finals scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. All-Session Passes are available for $45. Tickets for prelims are $8, and finals tickets are $12.

The Stanford Invitational Grand Prix begins Friday, April 4, with prelim sessions at 9 a.m. PT each day. Finals will begin each day at 5 p.m. PT. All-Session Passes are available for $25. Tickets for prelims are $5, and finals tickets are $8.

The 2007-2008 Toyota Grand Prix Series serves as an opportunity for athletes to race against top-notch competition and continue their preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The top medal-winner at the culmination of the eight-meet Toyota Grand Prix Series will be awarded $20,000, courtesy of Toyota and USA Swimming. A leaderboard can be found at www.usaswimming.org.

(release courtesy of USA Swimming)