Tigers in third place after first day at Indiana Invite
11/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 22, 2003
Bloomington, Indiana - The University of Missouri men's and women's swimming and diving teams had a great start to the three day invitational on Friday as they started the first morning by qualifying 27 swimmers in the preliminary heats to compete in the final heats to be held later in the evening.
The top-24 from the morning heats qualify to compete in the evening finals. Of the 24, the top-16 times in each event score points for the team.
In the morning session, several Tigers were able to set new personal bests. Sophomore Wade Pennington, junior Ryan Searby and freshman Jason Lyons all finished with personal best times in the 500-yard freestyle. Lyons finished nearly nine seconds ahead of his former best time.
In the 200-yard individual medley sophomore David Darmitzel, junior Jacob Thomas and freshman Lauren Duenke all finished with personal best times. Senior Sarah Lo and junior Amanda Morford also set new bests in the 50-yard freestyle.
In Friday's evening session the Tigers thrived in their events despite having to swim short course meters as compared to the usual short course yards.
On the women's side: Senior Andrea Nigh finished third in the 50-meter freestyle with her time of 26.41. Fellow senior Ellen Borgo also scored points for the Tigers in the 50-meter freestyle. In the 400-meter freestyle, senior Lizza Igoe, freshman Kim Gainey and senior Rebecca Wolfe all scored for the Tigers.
In the 200-meter individual medley, six Tiger women finished in the top-fifteen. Junior Megan Morford, Sarah Lo and freshman Amy Charley finished in the top-eight places in the championship final. Juniors Amanda Morford, Mariona Costa and Becca Dawson finished top-fifteen and added to the Tigers score.
In the relay events, the team of Nigh, Lo, Amanda Morford, and Borgo finished fourth in the 200-meter freestyle relay. In the 400-meter medley relay Lo, Costa, junior Belinda Wood and Nigh combined to finish third.
On the men's side: Senior Tyler Belanger finished in fourth place in the 50-meter freestyle with his time of 23.47 and sophomore Chris Lukas finished 11th with his time of 23.66. In the 400-meter freestyle, freshman Jason Lyons and sophomore Wade Pennington finished seventh and eighth, respectively. Freshman Peter Willet also scored for the Tigers as he finished 14th.
In the men's 200 IM, junior Matt North finished third with his time of 2:05.8 and sophomore David Darmitzel finished fifth with his time of 2:06.94. Junior Jacob Thomas added a 13th place finish and scored points for MU.
In the relay events, the Tiger men finished second and third. The 400-meter medley relay team of Lukas, North, David Darmitzel, and Belanger finished second with a time of 3:47.02. In the 200-meter freestyle relay Lukas, Belanger, junior Ryan Searby, and freshman Chris Pontecore finished third.
In the diving well, sophomore Evan Watters finished second on the 3-meter board and sophomore Aaron Wionzek added a third place finish on the 3-meter board as well. Junior Anna Massey finished seventh for the women on the 3-meter and sophomore Nicole Frazier added an eighth place finish.
Notes: Friday night senior Sarah Lo and sophomore Chris Lukas were able to qualify for the Canadian Olympic Trials. Lo qualified in the 50-meter freestyle, 200-meter IM and the 100-meter backstroke. Lukas qualified for the trials in the 100-meter backstroke.
Players Mentioned
