Costella named as All-American

Lauren Costella of Carson City has been named to USA Swimming's 2001 All-America Team.

Costella, a 16-year-old, who competes for the Carson Tigersharks swim club, was selected to a list comprised of swimmers who, while competing in the spring or summer 2001 national championships, equaled or bettered the faster

eighth-place times from either the 2000 Phillips 66 Spring National Championships or the 2000 Olympic Trials.

Costella was ranked No. 1 in the 1,500-meter freestyle and No. 8 in the 800 freestyle.

Costella earned her No. 1 ranking back on Aug. 18 when she beat Stephanie Carr in a duel that lasted into the final lengths at the U.S. National Championships in Clovis, Calif. Costella won with a time of 16 minutes, 26.13, beating Carr by less than three seconds.

Costella, a junior at Carson High School, was ranked No. 8 in the 800 freestyle with a time of 8:42.24. Diana Munz was ranked No. 1 at 8:32.20.

USA Swimming All-America selections:

1500 free (16:39.20 cutoff)

Lauren Costella,16:26.13; Diana Munz,16:27.74; Stephanie Carr, 16:28.87; Meredith Green,16:35.48; Adrienne Binder,16:35.54;

Meghan Sackett,16:36.93; Sarah Stein,16:37.56

800 free (8:43.51)

Diana Munz, 8:32.20; Kaitlin Sandeno, 8:32.82; Kayln Keller, 8:37.14; Ashley Chandler, 8:40.54; Adrienne Binder, 8:41.55; Magda Dyszkiewicz, 8:41.75; Rachel Komisarz, 8:42.02, Lauren Costella, 8:42.24