November 22, 1998

COLUMBIA, Mo- It has been that kind of year for the Missouri women's swimming and diving team. On Sunday night at the Indiana Invite, it came down to the final race, the 400 freestyle relay. The Tigers, unbeaten in dual competition, had to defeat the host school, Indiana, to win the three-day, eight-team meet. The team of Kim Lambert, Jeanna Willi, Kara Bramer and Tara Brooks pulled it out in school-record time, 3 minutes, 27.30 seconds, to give Missouri a 5.5 point win over Indiana.

In the meantime, the MU men closed out a successful weekend with a third place finish behind South Carolina and Purdue. The men did finish in front of nationally ranked Pittsburgh by 20.5 points.

Leading the meet heading into the final day, the Tiger women were going to need some big swims on Sunday and they got them from the start. Freshman phenom Katie Mae Fields continued her assault on the MU record books as she finished in second place in the 1650 freestyle in a school record time, 16 minutes, 53.53 seconds. Molly Vetter finished in sixth place with the fourth fastest time in school history.

In the second race, junior Rikki Janes stepped up and defeated two Indiana swimmers to win the 200 backstroke. Her time of 2 minutes, 2.99 seconds was three seconds faster than the Hoosiers' second place-finisher. Amanda Smiley came in fourth for Mizzou.

Two Tigers placed in the 100 freestyle with sophomore Kim Lambert leading the way with a fourth place finish and the third fastest time in school history, 52.12 seconds. Freshman Tara Brooks placed sixth with a time of 52.73 seconds.

Old reliable Tawney Larm, who broke the 100 breaststroke record on Saturday, finished in third place on Sunday in the 200 breast, and broke her own school record with a time of 2 minutes, 21.19 seconds. Freshman Krista Davis placed third in the 200 butterfly with the third fastest time in school history, 2 minutes, 5.25 seconds.

Not to be out shined were the Missouri men, who despite taking somewhat of back seat to the women's accomplishments are having a great season. Senior Craig Koenig finished eighth in the 1650 free for the Tigers with a time of 16 minutes, 10.12 seconds. Chris Peters placed fifth in the 200 backstroke.

Sophomore Aaron Lo and senior Dave Kinsella both had big weekends. After both swimmers swam personal bests on Saturday in the 50 freestyle, the duo stepped up again in the 100 free on Sunday. Lo placed third with a time of 45.60 seconds while Kinsella finished sixth in a time of 46.10 seconds. Kinsella's time equaled a career-best.

Breaststroke specialists Mike Tucker and Ryan Ruddy placed fourth and fifth in the 200 breast. Senior Mike Miller was a fifth place finisher in the 200 butterfly. The Tigers finished third in the 400 freestyle relay, but it was third fastest time in school history. The team consisted of Lo, Ruddy, Brendan Smith and Kinsella.

The Tigers are next in action vs. rival Kansas on Saturday, Dec. 5 in Columbia in a huge Big 12 dual meet.