The 2008 US Synchronized Swimming National Championships (1-3 May) continued today with the technical preliminary competition at the University of Arizona Rec Center Pool. In the tech solo event, 2004 Olympian Sara Lowe of Stanford grabbed the top spot with a 95.000 followed by Natalia Tarasova of Canisius (93.500).

In the duet tech event, Lowe and partner Courtenay Stewart tied 2008 Olympic Games qualifiers Bianca and Sonja Van Der Velden (who will compete for the Netherlands) of Santa Clara for the top position with a score of 95.000.

Stanford University finished the team tech competition in the top spot with a score of 95.833 in front of Santa Clara which finished with a 95.00. The Ohio State University followed with a 94.667.

Scores from today’s tech routines have been combined with Thursday’s preliminary free routine scores to determine the finalists for each event. Finals competition will begin at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday and will consist of eight routines per event.

Tucson is no stranger to U.S. Synchronized Swimming as it recently hosted the 2007 U.S. Masters Championships. The city also played host to the 2003 U.S. Collegiate National Championships as well as the 2001 U.S. Masters Championships.

More than 150 elite athletes will vie for national titles in the solo, duet and team events in the nation's most prestigious competition. The 2008 U.S. National Championships mark the 63rd year of national competition in the duet and team events and the 59th year of solo competition. Synchronized swimming requires a combination of strength, precision, grace and teamwork, and is considered a culmination of swimming, gymnastics and dance.