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Lauren LeRoy has come a long way since her freshman season as diver for the Tennessee Lady Vols.

Depending on whether she's diving from a 10-meter tower or 1-meter springboard, LeRoy usually is flipping and twisting anywhere from 10 to more than 30 feet in midair. A miscalculation means a lot of pain.

Yet and injury during her freshman season came from a far-lesser height. How about a broken foot caused by stepping from a curb?

After missing much-needed regular-season work, LeRoy scored only two points at the SEC meet. A year later, she scored 30.

Now comes the meet that will bring down the final curtain on her SEC diving. Competition began Wednesday at the University of Alabama pool. The SEC swimming and diving meet will end Saturday.

Lady Vols captain Christine Magnuson broke the SEC record for the 200-yard freestyle by leading of the 800 relay with a time of 1 minute, 43.00 seconds. The Lady Vols finished fourth (7:07.11). UT's men and women were in second place. (See results on Page D2).

LeRoy was third in 1-meter diving, won by LSU's Rachel Ware with 315.55 points. LeRoy was 4.5 points back.

The 2006-07 season was a breakthrough time for the Oshkosh, Wis., native. She placed second at the SEC meet on the 1-meter board and fourth at 3 meters.

LeRoy came to Tennessee with two YMCA national 1-meter diving titles.

"She got some valuable experience in the Summer Nationals at Stanford," UT coach Dave Parrington said her 2007 work. "She's just now beginning to capitalize on her experience ."

Parrington said his expectations for LeRoy at the SEC meet are high.

"SEC and is an extremely tough conference, but I expect her to be in the mix on 1-and 3-meter events," Parrington said. "It wouldn't surprise me if she comes away with a win on one of the boards."

What is her take on the meet?

"I'm excited. This has really been a great year as a team, one that has a lot of energy and confidence," she said. "I think we'll do well."Dave (Parrington) has prepared us well," she said. "He's a very wise man."

Also Wednesday, Tricia Weaner, Michele King, Magnuson and Carly Mathes finished third in the 200 medley relay (1:38.09) - just .09 behind runner-up Auburn. Florida won in 1:37.23.

Auburn won the 800 freestyle relay in 6:57.28 - the first women's college team to break seven minutes.

"I thought we had some incredible performances tonight," Lady Vols coach Matt Kredich said. "Especially from Lauren (diving). She made the finals in one of the closest competitions in SEC history.

"And Christine just destroyed the SEC record in the 200. Her butterfly leg on the relay was great, too."

Vols Off And Flying, Too: The UT men picked up big points by winning the 800 freestyle relay and taking a runnerup spot in the 200 medley relay. Nolan Morrell, Jonas Persson, Andrew Thirwell and Michael Wolfe set a school record (6:19.18) in the 800. Michael Wolfe and Morrell treamed with, Barrry Murphy, Octavio Alesi in the medley (1:26.07) as Auburn won in 1:24.81.

Sophomore diver Michael Muscari finished eighth in 3-meter diving.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.