BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southeastern Conference announced Friday that Auburn swimmer Maggie Bowen was named the SEC Women's Swimmer of the Year and diver Caesar Garcia was named the SEC Freshman Diver of the Year.

Bowen is a six-time SEC Champion, including three individual titles and two relay titles in 2001 and is the 2001 NCAA Champion in the 200 and 400 individual medley. The Jackson, Miss., native is also an American, NCAA and US Open Record holder in the 200 IM with a time of 1:55.49.

At the conclusion of the 2001 SEC Championship meet, Bowen was named the Performer of the Meet and was awarded the Commissioner's Trophy as the top female scorer in the meet. On January 10 of this year, she was named as the SEC Athlete of the Week.

Just recently, Bowen swam to a first place finish in the 200-meter IM and a second in the 400 IM at US Nationals earning herself a spot on the World Championship team. Earlier this month, Bowen was also named the SEC Women's Swimmer of the Year by the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

"The earning of this award really started last summer after the Olympic trials when she was just short of making the Olympic team," said Auburn head coach David Marsh. "Maggie really doubled her efforts and re-focused her goals for this season. Her success from this year can be rivaled only by swimming legend Rowdy Gaines."

"She has performed well at every level and has been unbeatable all year long. From her NCAA titles, to her American Record to her performance at the US National meet, Maggie has really done it all."

Garcia, a native of Baton Rouge, La., helped lead the Tigers to their fifth consecutive SEC Championship in 2001 placing sixth on the 3-meter, eighth on the platform and 13th on the 1-meter during the four-day event.

At the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships, Garcia placed fifth on the platform, eighth in the 3-meter and 12th in the 1-meter to qualify for the NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas.

Garcia became the first Auburn diver to make it to the national meet and become an All-American since Koffi Kla in 1996. Garcia placed eighth on the platform at NCAAs to earn that distinguished honor.