Swimming and Diving: Barnes, Lelli compete for spot on Canadian national team

Two members of the Pitt swimming and diving team, and one former member, competed in events… Two members of the Pitt swimming and diving team, and one former member, competed in events outside of the country last week, and all set personal bests in various events.

Junior Laura Barnes and sophomore Tamara Lelli took part in the Canadian World Championships Trials, while Warren Barnes raced for Canada in Universiade in Serbia.

The two swimmers were competing for a chance to join the Canadian national team when they travel to Rome later this month for the world championships, but neither qualified. Universiade is a mini Olympics held every other year for college athletes throughout the world.

Barnes competed in the 50-, 100- and 200-long course meter breaststroke, with her best finish coming in the 100. She placed 21st with a time of 1:03.49.

Her next best finish was 22nd in the 200 with a time of 2:38.01. She finished the 50 in 33.88 seconds, placing her 27th.

Lelli participated in four events, the 100- and 200-long course meter butterfly and the 100- and 200-long course meter freestyle.

Her best performances came using the butterfly stoke, as she finished 26th in both events. In the 100 she finished in 1:03.4 and she completed the 200 in 2:21.69.

In the freestyle events, Lelli finished 58th in the 200 in 2:09.55, and she placed 68th in the 100 with a time of 1:00.60.

While the two current Panthers were competing in Canada, Warren Barnes, who graduated in 2008, competed for team Canada in the 25th Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia.

Barnes raced in three events ­— the 50- and 100-long course meter breaststroke, as well as the 4×100-meter relay. His best finish came in the 100, when he finished 29th with a time of 1:03.49.

He also placed 32nd in the 50 with a time of 28.94 seconds.