Freshman Katie Mae Fields won both the 1000 and 500 freestyle events in her collegiate debut.Freshman Katie Mae Fields won both the 1000 and 500 freestyle events in her collegiate debut.
Swimming & Diving

Freshmen are Phenominal for MU Women's Swimmers

October 31, 1998

COLUMBIA, Mo.- Halloween at the University of Missouri Natatorium proved to be a coming-out party of sorts for Head Coach Brian Hoffer's women's swimming and diving team. Three Missoui freshmen led the Tigers to a 139-98 victory over Iowa State. On the men's side, the Cyclones proved without a doubt why they are ranked nationally as they downed the MU men 155-78.

The story of the day was indeed the Missouri freshmen women. Katie Mae Fields, making her collegiate debut, won the 1000 and 500 freestyle events. Her time of 5 minutes, 1.39 seconds was just a second and a half off of the Missouri school record. Fellow frosh Molly Vetter, who claimed two top 10 finishes at last week's Big 12 Invite, won the 200 freestyle in a pool-record time of 1 minute, 53.22 seconds. Vetter came back later and finished second behind Fields in the 500 free in a time of 5 minutes, 3.88 seconds.

Then there was frosh Tara Brooks, who like Fields was making her collegiate debut. Brooks placed second in the 50 freestyle behind MU sophomore Kim Lambert, and then won the 100 freestyle in a time of 53.24.

The Missouri veterans did their part in the Tiger victory as well. Sophomore Kara Bramer won the 200 individual medley with a time of 2 minutes, 8.20 seconds. Junior Cristina Souza wracked up her first dual win of the season with a first place finish in the 200 butterfly. Rikki Janes also brought home a win for the Tigers in the 200 backstroke.

Culminating the afternoon was the MU 400 freestyle-relay team as they broke the pool-record with a time of 3 minutes, 32.55 seconds.

As good as the MU women were, the Iowa State men were as good or better. The 24th-ranked Cyclones started the meet by breaking the pool record in the 400 medley-relay with a time of 3 minutes, 54.77 seconds. Lovre Franieovic led Iowa State with three victories (200, 500 and 1000 freestyle).

The Tigers received a big victory by sophomore Aaron Lo in the 50 freestyle. Lo's time was a very impressive 21.31. Missouri also claimed victories in the diving events. Junior Brad Duggan won the 1-meter event while sophomore walk-on Ryan Day took home his first career victory on the 3-meter board.