Conejo Simi Aquatics has announced that one of its most accomplished alumni, Kara Denby, will join CSA as an age group coach.

Denby, a Simi Valley native, is a recent graduate of Auburn University, where she was a top contributor to the Tigers' national championship team.

A 24-time All-American, Denby was a finalist at the 2008 Olympic Trials, placing fifth in the 50-meter freestyle with a time that was less than .10 from achieving a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.

In addition to her many accomplishments, in April of 2007 she was part of the world record-setting 4x100 medley relay team at the ninth annual FINA Short Course World Championships.

Denby swam the anchor freestyle leg of the gold-medal winning relay team that bested the previous world record by nearly half a second, swimming the relay in a time of 3:51.36 (short course meters).

Furthermore, she's an Auburn Tigers recordholder in the 100yard freestyle and was recently named a finalist for the prestigious NCAA Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship, awarded to studentathletes who have a minimum 3.5 grade-point average, demonstrate evidence of superior character and leadership, and show that participation in athletics has been a positive influence on their personal and intellectual development.

"Kara Denby has been an exceptional student-athlete and a great role model for CSA swimmers," said CSA head coach and director of swimming Gardner Howland.

"We're excited to have Kara rejoin the CSA team in a coaching role where she can use her many skills and accomplishments to influence a new generation of swimmers."

While swimming for CSA, Kara qualified for and swam at the 2004 Olympic Trials, placing 28th in the 50 freestyle, 32nd in the 100 freestyle and 34th in the 200 IM.

She also finished fourth in the 100 freestyle and ninth in the 50 freestyle at the 2004 Summer Nationals and was the 2003 Junior National champion in the 50 and 100 freestyles.

Article courtesy of CSA.