March 29, 2007
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn's Cesar Cielo, who earned NCAA Division I Swimmer of the Year honors while leading the Tigers to the 2007 national championship as a sophomore, finished fourth in the finals of the 100-meter freestyle during the fifth day of competition at the FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.
Cielo, the reigning NCAA champion in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events, finished with a time of 48.51, just .08 seconds behind Italy's Filippo Magnini and Canada's Brent Hayden, who shared the gold medal with times of 48.43. Australia's Eamon Sullivan earned the bronze with a time of 48.47.
In other action involving former Auburn swimmers, Eric Shanteau has reached the finals of the 200m breast. After placing seventh in the prelims with a time of 2:13.00, Shanteau improved to 2:11.54 in the semifinals, clocking the fifth-best time to advance to Friday's final.
Also, Margaret Hoelzer helped the U.S.A. women's team reach the finals of the 4x200m free realy. Hoelzer swam the second leg in the prelims, posting a split of 1:59.90 to help the U.S. squad finish eighth in the prelims with a time of 8:02.87. Hoelzer did not swim in the finals, as the U.S. team won the event with a world-record time of 7:50.09.
Competition at the FINA World Championships continues through April 1.