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Tuesday, March 14, 2000

Hawaii’s
swimming teams
sue NCAA

At issue is whether the best times
summitted for qualifying
were recorded

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

The University of Hawaii men's and women's swimming teams are suing the NCAA for not allowing them to compete at the national championships this month.

The complaint, filed in Circuit Court yesterday by 13 members of the swim teams, seeks a temporary restraining order against the NCAA to prevent the championship meets from being held until the courts decide whether the swimmers' rights were violated.

Circuit Judge Gail Nakatani was to hear arguments on the temporary restraining order this morning.

The women's championships are scheduled to begin Thursday in Indianapolis and the men's meet is set for March 23 at Minneapolis.

At issue is whether the "best times'' submitted to the NCAA for qualifying were recorded under unofficial circumstances.

The NCAA informed the UH swim teams on March 9 that it had rejected their entry forms.

But the collegiate body gave no written reason for rejecting the forms, said Eric Seitz, one of the attorneys representing the swim teams.

As part of the application process, coaches are required to submit entry forms with a swimmer's best time for each event.

"UH blew it by submitting information that the NCAA didn't like or can't rely on, so they're not willing to give UH a chance,'' Seitz said.

UH swim coach Sam Freas said he didn't want to hurt his swimmers' chances in the suit by commenting on the situation.

Kevin W. McNamee, chair of the NCAA's swimming and diving committee, could not be reached for comment.

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UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii