Reid Owen

Position:
Freestyle
Height:
6-2
Weight:
170
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Knoxville, Tenn.
High School:
Webb School

Career Best Times: 1:48.71 in the 200-yard backstroke; 1:39.54 in the 200-yard freestyle; 4:24.85 in the 500-yard freestyle; 9:11.09 in the 1000-yard freestyle; 15:14.30 in the 1650-yard freestyle.

General: Elected as one of two co-captains for the 2004-05 season...ranks as the fifth fastest 1650-yard freestyler, seventh fastest 200-yard backstroker and ninth fastest 500-yard freestyler in UNC history...a talented three-time returning letterman who came to UNC from Tennessee...a versatile swimmer who competes primarily in the distance freestyle events...competed for the Pilot Aquatic Club...he won three championships swimming for Pilot AC at the 2001 South Zone Championships...was named the team's hardest worker and won the Pilot AC Award as the best all-around swimmer on the team...Junior National qualifier for Pilot Aquatic Club.

Summer 2004: Finished 16th in the 1500-meter freestyle in the preliminaries of the U.S. Olympic Trials with a time of 15:43.01...at U.S. Senior Nationals, he placed in the top 13 in three different events...finished seventh in the 1500-meter freestyle with a time of 15:43.95...took 12th in the 800-meter freestyle at 8:16.57...was 13th in the 400-meter freestyle in 3:59.75.

2003-04: Swam superbly at the NCAA Championships...earned honorable mention All-America honors by placing 13th in the 1500-meter freestyle with a time of 15:12.05...also swam the 400-meter freestyle at the meet and improved five spots on his seeded spot...was exceptional at the ACC Championships...placed sixth in the 1650-yard free in 15:14.30...swam the third leg of the second place 800-yard freestyle relay team...finished seventh in the 500-yard free at 4:25.26...set a personal best in finishing 11th in the 200-yard freestyle at 1:39.54.

2002-03: Had an outstanding 2003 ACC Championship meet...finished eighth in the 1650-yard freestyle at 15:24.16, ninth in the 500-yard freestyle at 4:26.63 and 13th in the 200-yard backstroke at 1:50.51...he also led off the Tar Heels' 800 free relay team which placed second...named to the 2002-03 ACC Academic Honor Roll.

2001-02: Won the Jamerson Memorial Award as the Most Improved Swimmer on the 2001-02 Carolina swimming team...chosen for 2002 ACC Academic Honor Roll...swam well at the ACC meet with a trio of personal bests...was 11th in the 200 back, 17th in 200 free and 18th in the 500 free.

Prep: Graduated from the Webb School of Knoxville on May 20, 2001...participated on the swimming team there, swimming primarily the 200 back, 100 fly and 200 free...received two coaches awards for his swimming abilities...was a member of a state championship relay team at Webb School...won the Spartan Award as the best all-around swimmer on the team...an Eagle Scout...vice president of the Student Government Association...member of Physics Bowl national championship team...a National Merit commended scholar.

Personal: Given name is Reid Nokes Owen...nicknamed "Joker"...has one brother and one sister...was born on March 11, 1983 in Knoxville, Tenn...says his biggest sports thrill was competing at the NCAA Championship...athlete he most admires is Chamique Holdsclaw....hobbies include juggling, playing poker, telling jokes and collecting Coca Cola memorabilia...double majoring in business and communications...plans a career as a lawyer or businessman, possibly owning a Krispy Kreme store.