Radcliffe's two entrants in the women's NCAA swimming and diving championships in Tempe, Arizona, Laurie Downey and Nancy Sato, have moved to higher than expected places after the first round, with senior tri-captain Sato having a shot at the finals.

Sato, New England's record-holding diving champ, is 14th in a field of 65 competing in the one-meter dive. If Sato can improve her place to 12th in the three dives of today's second round, then she will compete in the finals.

Freshman Downey placed 21st in a field of 86 swimmers in the 100-yd. backstroke with a time of 1 minute 4.5 seconds, her best of the season, after being seeded 70th in the event. Downey also finished 34th of 99 swimmers in the 200-yd. individual medley.

Sato and Downey will also compete today in the three-meter diving and 50-yd. backstroke events.