TOWSON, Md. – Towson University sophomore Melanie Rowland has qualified for the United States Olympic Swimming trials in the 200- butterfly after recording a time of 2:15.76 at the Speedo Sizzler Meet at McDonough Pool last weekend. Rowland's time came in under the required 2:16.49 needed to qualify for the trials. Rowland will now travel to Omaha, Neb. and compete in the event on Thursday, June 28.

Rowland, who finished second at the 2012 Colonial Athletic Association Championships in the 200-yard butterfly, is only the second Towson swimmer in the history of the school to qualify for the trials, joining men's swimmer Aaron Krause who did so in 2004.

“Melanie is one of our most committed student-athletes and she has had the goal of making the Trials for quite some time,” Towson Head Coach Pat Mead said. “She has worked very hard to earn this opportunity and I am so proud of her.  This past spring, she came close to making the qualifying time on three different occasions and she never gave up.  That type of perseverance is key to being successful at anything in life.”

Rowland's time of 1:59.97 which she swam in the 200-yard butterfly at the 2012 CAAs was the fourth-fastest time in the history of the school. She also excelled in the 100-yard butterfly as a sophomore, with her best time of the season (55.73) in that event coming at the Terrapin Cup.