Phelps, Coughlin, Lochte and Lezak to Swim at the Eric Namesnik Michigan Grand Prix, April 8-10

4/5/2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A talented field of swimmers, including Olympic gold medalists Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md), Natalie Coughlin (Vallejo, Calif.), Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) and Jason Lezak (Irvine, Calif.), will compete in the 2011 Eric Namesnik Michigan Grand Prix, April 8-10 in Ann Arbor, Mich. The meet is the fifth stop of the seven-meet 2010-2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series and will take place at the Canham Natatorium on the campus of the University of Michigan.
 
The field in Michigan includes over 25 members of the U.S. National Team. This is the first Grand Prix meet of the season for Coughlin, who last competed at the 2010 FINA Short Course World Championships in Dubai, UAE last December. Other swimmers expected to compete include Michigan natives Allison Schmitt (Canton, Mich.) and Peter Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich.). as well as National Teamers Katie Hoff (Towson, Md.), Cullen Jones (New Brunswick, N.J.), Dana Vollmer (Granbury, Texas), Kate Ziegler (Great Falls, Va.), Emily Brunemann (Crescent Springs, Ky.) and Tyler Clary (Riverside, Calif.).
 
A leaderboard for the USA Swimming Grand Prix Series can be found online at www.usaswimming.org/grandprix. Swimmers are awarded five points for a gold medal, three points for a silver medal and one point for a bronze medal. The top scoring swimmer at the conclusion of the Series will be awarded $20,000. National Teamer Missy Franklin (Centennial, Colo.) leads the current Grand Prix standings and is followed closely by Tunisia’s Ous Mellouli and then Lochte.
 
The competition will be broadcast and webcast LIVE on Universal Sports on Saturday, April 9 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. ET and on Sunday, April 10 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. ET. A LIVE webcast of both prelims and finals from the meet will be available throughout the weekend on www.usaswimming.org/michigangrandprix.
 
Tickets for the Eric Namesnik Michigan Grand Prix can be purchased at the door or reserved online here. The complete competition schedule for the three-day meet can be found online. Finals start at 9 a.m. ET and prelims begin at 5:30 p.m. ET.
 
The USA Swimming Grand Prix Series serves as an opportunity for swimmers to race against some of the best competition in the country as they continue their preparation for the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China as well as the 2011 ConocoPhillips National Championships in Palo Alto, Calif. Other stops of the 2010-2011 Grand Prix series include: Charlotte, N.C., and Santa Clara, Calif.
 
Media wishing to cover the event can visit www.usaswimming.org/media to apply for a credential.