Twenty-four members of the U.S. National Team are slated to compete in the 2008 U.S. Open in Minneapolis, Minn., July 29 – Aug. 2 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

Scott Usher (Grand Island, Neb.), a 2004 Olympian, is scheduled to compete in both breaststroke events, while American-record holder Mary Descenza (Naperville, Ill.) will be on deck to contest the 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m backstroke, 100m and 200m butterfly and the 200m IM. Joining Descenza and Usher is three-time National Champion Ariana Kukors (Auburn, Wash.), Pan American gold medalist Caitlin Leverenz (Tucson, Ariz.), and World University Games gold medalist Michael Klueh (Evansville, Ind.).

The U.S. Open will serve as the selection meet for the 2009 World University Games, to be held from July 2-7, 2009, in Belgrade, Serbia. The highest placing athlete in each event who will be enrolled as a full-time university student through Jan. 1, 2009 will to be invited to the World University Games Team. Additional qualifying procedures can be found online at www.usaswimming.org. 

The meet will follow the traditional schedule of morning prelims and evening finals with the morning sessions starting each day at 9 a.m. and evening finals beginning at 6 p.m. All-session passes are available for $50 for adults and $45 for children. Day passes are $14 for adults and $10 for children, and single-session passes are $9 for adults and $6 for children. For more information, visit usaswimming.org.

Media wishing to cover the event are advised to submit the online credential request form no later than Monday, July 28.