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Melissa Deary

Class: Senior Hometown: Jacksonville, FL High School: The Bolles HS

Height: 6-0 Event: Free Birthdate: 08/28/1982

THIS SEASON: Melissa Deary, a talented mid-to-distance freestyler, has been an NCAA point-scorer in each of her first two years at USC and is still improving entering her 2003 junior season.

2002: Deary raced in three events at the 2002 NCAAs as a sophomore, highlighted by an 11th-place finish in the consolation final of the 500y free (4:44.75). She was also 24th in the 1650y free (16:40.46) and 39th in the 200y free (1:49.54) … At the 2002 Pac-10s, she was third in the 1650y free (16:25.96), eighth in the 500y free (4:51.87) and 17th in the 200y free (1:49.20) … Her 4:44.75 in the 500y free was USC’s top time in the event last year … She earned Pac-10 All-Academic honorable mention honors with a 3.00 GPA … At the 2002 U.S. Summer Nationals, she competed in the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle.

2001: Deary, as a 2001 freshman, competed in four events at the 2001 NCAAs, her efforts highlighted by a 10th place finish on USC’s 800y free relay ... She scored individually with a 16th-place showing in the 500y free (4:52.28) and also was 26th in the 200y free (1:49.01) and 29th in the 1650y free (16:50.95) ... At the 2001 Pac-10 Championships, she finalled in three events, taking third in the 1650y free (16:33.53), sixth in the 200y free (1:49.02) and seventh in the 500y free (4:54.54) ... Her season’s best time in the 500y free (4:46.59) was tops on the team.

HIGH SCHOOL: Deary prepped at the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla. ... One of the top prep swimmers in the nation during her career, Deary was a regular at the U.S. Nationals since 1996 ... At the 1997 U.S. Summer Nationals, she was sixth in the 1500m free and eighth in the 800m free ... She took fifth in the 800m free at the 1997 U.S. Open ... At the 1998 U.S. Spring Nationals, she was seventh in the 800m free and eighth in the 400m free and at the U.S. Summer meet that year, she was second in the 400m free and third in the 800m free ... She also finalled in the 200m, 400m and 800m free at the U.S. Open in 1998 ... At the 1999 U.S. Spring Nationals, she was sixth in the 800m free ... She also competed at the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships in 1999 ... At the 2000 U.S. Spring Nationals, she was third in the 400m free and fourth in the 800m free. PERSONAL: Her birthday is Aug. 28, 1982.

DEARY'S PERSONAL RECORDS: