DAPHNE—Two former Daphne High swimmers are leading their college teams to outstanding seasons and one of them or both may well represent their country this summer in the 2008 Olympics.

Western Kentucky University Head Swimming Coach Bruce W. Marchionda said his team is fortunate to have the elder Gilmore on his men’s team. “As you may know Francis was a two event Sun Belt Conference

Champion (100 & 200 Backstroke) last year. He was voted ‘Most Valuable Performer’ by his teammates,” Marchionda said.

“He is currently leading our men's team which is currently undefeated (5-0) this season. (As of Jan. 11).”

In the fall, Marchionda called Gilmore one of his best racers who missed qualifying for the Olympic trials in the back stroke by just 0.3 seconds during the summer

In an article by Sarah Hyman for the WKU Herald, Gilmore said “Swimming is my life. I just want to train this season and work on getting faster, make the NCAAs and make the Olympic trial cut and see how well I do there.”

An education major, Gilmore had the highest point totals to lead the Sun Belt Conference as a junior and holds the school’s natatorium record for both the 100 and 200 backstroke.

Meanwhile, down on the bayou, History major Katie Gilmore’s head coach at Louisiana State University, Adam Smith, sees even more improvement ahead for his bengal women’s team captain.

“When Katie came to LSU she was a diamond in the rough and with her determination and hard work, she learned how to apply her skills to become the sprinter she is today,” he said. “The willingness to absorb and accept all instruction and believe in what the coaches are doing has allowed her to make the great strides in the pool.  From an Alabama state champion in high school to an SEC finalist, an NCAA All-American and of course an Olympic Trial qualifier.  It has been a very exciting (two) years for Katie, but we both know there is a lot more ahead of her in her swimming career here at LSU.”

With Gilmore’s leadership, so far this season, the Lady Tigers hold a 4-1 overall dual-meet record, including a 3-1 mark in SEC action as of last Friday.

And with her help, LSU owns victories over South Carolina, Alabama, Vanderbilt and Delta State and most recently Notre Dame. The Lady Tigers’ only loss came against top-ranked Georgia on Oct. 19.

Although biased, their father, Tom Gilmore, believes his daughter can make the Olympic team thanks, in part, to the international level of competition the South Eastern Conference provides.

“Katie frankly has a shot at making the team. She could very well make the finals as that is consistent with her national and SEC placings.  The SEC is like the Olympics in swimming because of the heavy international presence of good European, Asian, and South American students competing for the the SEC schools.  We all realize that the difference in making the team and not will be to the fingertips (in Katie's events of the 50 meter and 100 meter freestyle).”

Equally proud, mother Bea Clayton, is happy both are excelling at the college level in the sport they love.

“I would like for their ‘hometown’ to know how well they are doing,” she said. “They were raised in the BMAC (Baldwin Mobile Aquatic Club in Belforest) pool with Terry Martin as their coach!”

As a Junior (2006-07): Francis Gilmore was honored as the Most Valuable Swimmer and was the top point-getter for the Toppers at the SBC Championships, scoring 79.5 points, earned the title at the conference meet in the 100 Back (49.68) and the 200 Back (1:47.32) and helped win the 200 medley relay, owns six top-10 finishes all-time at WKU, including second in the 100 Back (49.50) and 200 Back (1:47.32), broke the Bill Powell Natatorium record in the 200 Back (1:48.75) Jan. 20, 2007 meet against Wright State and then broke the record seven days later against Louisville (1:47.98) and was victorious in 11 individual regular season events.

Katie Gilmore wrapped her sophomore year at SEC and NCAA level events including the 50 freestyle with times of :22.63 in the 2007 SEC Championships and :50.00 in the 100 freestyle at the 2007 NCAA Championships, :56.01 in the 100 backstroke for the 2007 SEC Championships and a :56.35 in the 100 butterfly against Houston, Rice and the University of New Orleans.

At Daphne, she was a back-to-back state champion freestyle swimmer, earned four letters and All-America consideration, a four-time all-county selection and a Southeastern regional finalist. In addition to winning two individual Alabama state champion- ships, she still holds the state record in the 50 free and as a senior helped lead her team to place fourth in state as a senior.

The SEC Championships will be held in Tuscaloosa in February, and Ohio State University will be the host for the 2008 NCAA championships.

The Olympic trials will be held later in Nebraska in July.

Katie Gilmore has already qualified in the 50 meter freestyle and hopes to qualify in the 100 free and the butterfly this spring

The mens Sun Belt Conference championships will be hosted by Western Kentucky University in Nashville.

For more information visit LSUsports.net and www.wkusports.com