Even Sean Shannon, raised in the digital age of computers, cell phones and instant messaging, is impressed with how the organizers of the Southwest Ohio Swimming and Diving Classic operate.

"It's pretty amazing," said Shannon, a senior at Dayton Christian High School. "You got all the swimmers in different places and you know 10 or 15 minutes after your race if you make the finals. It's pretty cool."

Shannon was one of the area swimmers in the first day finals of the 24th Southwest Classic Saturday night at Cincinnati St. Xavier High School. He was third in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:44.00 and sixth in the 500 freestyle in 4:44.0. He is in the 1,650 freestyle finals tonight.

Other top finishers for the boys Saturday were Sidney's Paul Miller (first in 50 free), Wesley McDowell of Wayne (second in 50 breaststroke), Ben Jacober of Vandalia Butler (fourth in 50 breaststroke) and Adam Stutz of Beavercreek (second in 100 butterfly).

The Centerville girls 400 medley relay team of Rebecca Brooks, Sarah Andrews, Darcey Heuser and Lydia Hackert took first place. Emily Simpson of Beavercreek was third and Heuse fourth in the 200 freestyle. Kately Pratt-Collins of Greenville was second in the 100 backstroke while Brooks was third. Jessica Swope of Stivers was second in the 50 breaststroke .

Shannon was one of 2,600 athletes from 110 schools from the southwestern part of the state to participate in the event. The swimmers are spread across seven sites — the Beavercreek YMCA, Lebanon's Countryside YMCA, Trotwood-Madison High School, Mason High School, Milford High School and two sessions at Miami University.

More than 500 volunteers help make it the largest high school swimming invitational in the country, according to Swimming World magazine.

The timetable is set so the prelims in each event go off at each site at the same time. When and event is finished, the results are e-mailed to "swim meet central" at Miami. A computer program quickly compiles the top 16 times, plus two alternates who make the finals. Results are e-mailed back to each site and posted.

The prelims of 11 events were held Saturday morning, with the top 16 going to Cincinnati on Saturday night for the finals. Prelims will be held in nine more events today with the finals in Cincinnati tonight..