ULTIMATE WATER BOY: THIS OWEN NOT A HOOP STANDOUT; EXCELS IN POOL

It has certainly been a very good athletic season for the Owen family of Cape Girardeau.

Area sports fans who follow Southeast Missouri State University basketball no doubt know of the exploits of Nathan Owen, a freshman guard who stepped into the Indians' starting lineup a few weeks ago and has been playing exceptionally well, particularly for his rookie season.

But a lot of people might not know that Nathan's younger brother Jason -- a Cape Girardeau Central High School junior -- is as accomplished a swimmer as Nathan is a basketball player.

This past Saturday, during the Missouri boys swimming and diving championships in St. Peters, Jason finished second in both the 200- and 500-yard freestyle races with career-best times of 1:44.61 and 4:41.70, respectively.

The younger Owen, who figures to be a state title threat during his senior season next year, said he came away pleased with his performance Saturday -- even though he fell just short of a championship.

"It would have been nice to get first, but I was happy," he said. "I swam my best times by far so I was pleased with that. And I was close (to first) in both races."

Owen laughed when he was then asked the question that he said he has had to field quite a few times: how has he evolved into a top-flight swimmer instead of an all-star basketball player like Nathan, a former all-stater at Central High?

Jason, who naturally grew up around basketball -- John Owen, Jason's and Nathan's father, was an All-American at Georgetown College in Kentucky -- said it's just the way things have worked out.

"I just swam when I was a kid and I was naturally good at it, so I just kept doing it," he said.

Not that Owen hasn't experienced his share of basketball competition over the years. He has played hoops since a young age, competed in junior high school and even played for Central's junior varsity last year.

"Last year I played basketball for the JV all the time, and whenever I could, I'd go to swim meets," he said. "I've played basketball since I was little and it was kind of a tough decision this year. I still liked basketball, but I knew I was better at swimming so I had to concentrate on that."

And concentrating on swimming certainly paid big dividends for Owen this year.

"Jason had a tremendous season for us," said Central swimming coach Dayna Powell. "He was undefeated in the 200 and 500 freestyle going into state and he had his best times of the season at state.

"I think Jason is only going to get better and better."

Although he still plays church league basketball, Owen said swimming will definitely be his No. 1 athletic endeavor in the future.

"I definitely want to swim in college and I would like to win state next year," he said. "I just want to keep getting better."