Feb. 14, 2000
Tigers Setting Sights High in Lone Star State
After finishing fifth and improving upon their 1998 score by 47 points (363 to 410) at the 1999 conference championships, the University of Missouri women's swimming and diving team has plenty of goals to accomplish at the 2000 Big 12 meet. First and foremost, Mizzou hopes to continue to build upon its league championship point total as they have done the previous three seasons.
Granted climbing out of the fifth place slot in the conference will be difficult, but the Tigers have plenty of other goals as well. NCAA standards, school records and career best times should fall, but what Hoffer and his swimmers would love to see is a few athletes actually make it to the "Big Show" (NCAA Championships).
A Look Back At 1999
The Tigers were led by junior Tawney Larm, who for the third straight season put together a solid Big 12 Championship weekend. Larm broke two school records, made two senior national cuts and one NCAA consideration cut. She was a major surprise in the 200 individual medley as she placed third with a career-best time, 2 minutes, 3.30 seconds. That time was a senior cut time as well as an NCAA consideration cut time. Larm also placed 7th in the 400 I.M. and 10th in the 200 breaststroke. Her time in the 200 breast of 2 minutes, 19.41 seconds was also a new school record.
Also making their marks on the 1999 Big 12 Championships was freshmen Molly Vetter. Vetter finaled in three events and put together a magnificent showing. She finished 6th in the 200 freestyle in a school record and NCAA consideration cut time of 1 minute, 50.53 seconds. She turned in another huge performance in the 500 freestyle finishing fourth in the event while junior Cristina Souza placed fifth. The two swimmers now own the top two of the top three times of all-time in that event. Vetter did it again in the 1650 freestyle placing fifth with a time of 17 minutes, 3.26 seconds, the third fastest MU mark of all-time.
The Missouri relay teams also put together a memorable showing. With the exception of the 400 medley relay, all of Missouri's relay teams finished no lower than fourth place. The Tigers 200 free relay team of Jeanna Willi, Tara Brooks, Whitney Nigh and Rikki Janes placed fourth just missing out on a school record time (1 minute, 34.40 seconds). The 200 medley relay team of Janes, Willi, Larm and Brooks placed fourth and matched the second fastest time in school history with a time of 1 minute, 45.79 seconds.
Perhaps the highlight of the weekend was the performance of the Tigers 800 freestyle relay team. Vetter, Souza, Katie Mae Fields and Brooks pulled off a major upset by finishing in third place and demolishing the school record with a time of 7 minutes, 27.29 seconds.
Missouri Coming Off Best Regular Season Under Hoffer
MU turned in is best dual record, 9-2, to date under Head Coach Brian Hoffer. In the previous seven seasons that Hoffer has coached the Tigers, Mizzou has only lost two dual meets one other season (97-98) when MU went 6-2. Not only did the Black and Gold turn in a 9-2 overall dual record, they recorded a 2-1 Big 12 dual record.
Mizzou defeated Nebraska, 123-120, in Columbia back on January 29 for the first time in school history. It marked the first win in league competition over another school other than Iowa State for the Tigers. Missouri also record key wins during the season over nationally ranked Illinois and Tennessee while also defeating Iowa and Indiana.
And The Record Came Tumbling Down
In a season that was highlighted by big-time performances and close wins, the MU women swam into the record books in grand fashion. Freshman sensation Leslie Hoh established a new school record in the 100 breast as well as the 400 IM (converted from short course meters). In the 200 breast, Hoh is less than a half a second off the school record.
During the Black and Gold's meet against Iowa, the lady Tigers set four new MU Natatorium pool records as well marking the first time in school history that MU has accomplished such a feat. Mizzou started the meet off with a spectacular 200 medley relay. The team of Janes, Hoh, Willi and freshman Ellen Cross smashed the pool record with a time of 1:45.65, only a half a second off the school record as well. The other three records to fall were all due to the outstanding performances of Hoh. She broke the 100 breast, 200 breast and 200 IM pool records, bringing her total four on the day.
Oh Canada, Oh Canada
Two Missouri swimmers qualified for the Canadian Olympic Trials at the Indiana Invite the first weekend in December. The Trials will be in Montreal, Canada the first week in June. It is the second time that senior Rikki Janes has qualified for the meet while sophomore Tara Brooks qualified for the first time. Janes swam to qualifying standards in the 100 and 200 back, 100 fly and 200 IM and Brooks in the 50 free.
Looking to Sydney 2000
Freshman Leslie Hoh qualified for the United States Olympic Trials which are held in Indianapolis, Ind. the beginning of August. She made the U.S. qualifying standards at the Junior National East Championships last August and will competing in the 200 and 400 individual medleys.
Black and Gold Achieving Greatness
Mizzou took another big step in the programs history at the Indiana Invitational. The MU women repeated as the Invite champions, defeating the 27th ranked Indiana Hoosiers and the 18th ranked Tennessee Volunteers. The Tigers wracked up 1,158 points to the Hoosiers' 912.5 and the Vols' 770.
A Few Tigers to Watch
Tiffany Bohon
1999-2000
* Ranked 3rd on MU All-Time top-five in the 100 breast.
* Placed 5th in the 100 breast and 7th in the 200 breast at the Indiana Invite.
* Finished as the runner-up in the 200 breast against Western Illinois.
* Turned in 3 top-3 dual meet finishes.
Hickman High School
* Missouri's first-ever four-time state champion in a single event (100 breast).
* Earned high school All-American honors in the 100 breast.
* 1999 co-Swimmer-of-the-Meet at the Missouri state meet.
* Named the Columbia Missourian's Hickman High School Female Athlete-of-the-Year.
* Named the Columbia Daily Tribune's Athlete-of-the-Year.
* Ranked 97th in the Columbia Daily Tribune's top 100 athletes of the century from Columbia, Mo.
1999-2000
* Ranked on MU's All-Time top five list in five events -3rd 200 IM -3rd 400 IM -2nd 400 Free Relay -5th 800 Free Relay
* Had 3 personal best times at the Indiana Invite along with 3 top-8 finishes -4th 400 IM -6th 200 IM -8th 100 Breast
* Turned in 12 top-5 dual finishes
1998-99
* At the Big 12 meet won the consolation final of the 200 IM (9th, 2:05.01) while finishing 11th in the 400 IM (4:29.57)
1997-98
* Placed 11th in the 1650 free at the Big 12 Championships and also consoled in both the 200 and 400 IM
* Victorious in first career dual vs. Iowa State with a win in the 200 free as well as placing 2nd in the 500 free
1999-2000
* Recorded Mizzou's fastest time ever in the 200 Free anchoring the 800 free relay at the IU Invite
* Won the 400m free at the Indiana Invite while also finishing 3rd in the 200 free and 5th in the 1650 free
* Has 4 dual wins as a freshman
* Turned in 15 top-5 dual finishes
Service High School
* Chandler is one of the most successful swimmers to ever come out of the state of Alaska
* As a junior in 1997 finished fourth at the Junior Nationals West in the 800 meter free
* Four-time Alaska state high school champion
* Holds over 25 Alaska state swimming records
1999-2000
* Qualified for the 2000 Olympic Trials in the 200 and 400 IM
* School record holder in the 400 IM and 100 breast
* Also ranked on MU's All-Time top five in 2 other events -2nd 200 breast
-2nd 200 IM
* NCAA provisional qualifier in the 400 IM
* Named the Big 12 Swimmer of the Month for December
* Established 4 MU Natatorium pool records in one weekend
* Has finished no lower than 3rd in any meet this season
* Recorded 12 dual meet wins
-2 100 breast
-5 200 breast
-5 200 IM
Providence High School
* 1999 summer Junior National champion in the 200 IM
* Also finished 3rd in the 400 IM at the 1999 summer Junior National Championships
* Consolation finalist at the 1999 spring Senior Nationals by placing 13th in the 100-meter breaststroke
* Placed 2nd in the 200 IM at the `96 Junior Nationals and 5th in the 400 IM at the `98 Junior Nationals
* 3-time Academic All-American
* Member of National Honor Society and German National Honor Society
1999-2000
* School record holder in the 200 back, 200 and 400 medley relays
* Ranked on MU's All-Time top 5 in other events
-2nd 100 back
-4th 200 IM
-4th 400 IM
-4th & 5th 200 Free Relay
-3rd & 5th 400 Free Relay
-1st, 2nd, 3rd & 5th 200 Medley Relay
-1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th 400 Medley Relay
* Qualified for the Canadian Olympic Trials in the 100 and 200 back, 100 fly and 200 IM
* Won the 100 back at the IU Invite
* Recorded 10 dual wins during season
1998-99
* Turned in three top-16 performances at the conference meet highlighted by 100 back consolation final win (57.64) also finished 10th in the 200 back(2:03.82) and 14th in the 100 fly (58.63)
1997-98
* Won the consolation race in the 100 back at the Big 12 Championships
1996-97
* Had 7th place finishes in both the 100 and 200 back at the Big 12 Championships and also won the consolation final of the 100 fly
* Placed third and set school record in the 200 back, placed 4th and made the NCAA provisional cut in the 100 back and placed 5th in the 100 fly at Miami Invite
1999-2000
* School record holder in the 200 and 400 free relays
* Ranked on MU's All-Time top 6 list in 5 events
-4th 50 feee
-4th 100 free
-1st 200 free relay
-1st, 2nd & 4th 400 free relay
* Swam to 4 dual wins
* Recorded 13 top-3 dual meet finishes
* Finished 5th in the 100 free, 6th in the 100 breast and 12th in the 50 free at the IU Invite
1998-99
* Member of 200 free relay that achieved a NCAA provisional standard
* At conference finished in the top-20 in three events highlighted by her 16th place finish in the 50 free (24.14) as well as 15th in the 100 breast (1:07.33)
1997-98
* Won the 50 free in her first collegiate dual meet race at Iowa State
* Outstanding Big 12 Championships: finished third in all three consolation races that she qualified for: 50 free, 100 and 200 breast
* Also part of the MU record breaking 200 free-relay team
1999-2000
* Team captain
* School record holder in 200 breast, 200 IM, 200 and 400 medley relays
* Finished in the top-3 19 times in dual meet action
* Victorious in the four events in dual meets
* Placed in the top-4 in four events at the IU Invite
1998-99
* Named co-MVP of the team
* All-Big 12 selection
* NCAA provisional qualifier
* Lowered 3 of 4 school records during season while adding the 100 breast record
* Swam to All-Big 12 honors and an NCAA provisional qualifying standard in 200 IM at conference
* At Big 12 Championships placed in the 200 breast and 400 IM
1997-98
* At the Miami Invite placed 2nd in both the 100 and 200 breast as well as 3rd in the 400 IM and 5th in the 200 IM
* At Conference broke both of her Missouri IM records and won the consolation race in the 400 IM while establishing a new 200 breast school record
1996-97
* Broke both Missouri IM records at the Big 12 Championships while placing in the consolations in both IM events and 200 breast
1999-2000
* School record holder in 800 free relay
* Name appears on MU's All-Time top-five list 8 times
-4th 200 free
-3rd 500 free
-4th 1,000 free
-2nd 200 fly
-1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th 800 free relay
* 11 top-3 dual meet finishes
* Won the 500 free against North Texas and SIU
* Recorded 3 top-8 performances at Indiana Invite
1998-99
* Finished fifth in the 500 free (4:56.91) in a personal best time by over four seconds at conference
* Also at the Big 12 meet placed 11th in the 1650 (17:31.35) as well as 12th in the 200 fly (2:06.16)
1997-98
* At Big 12 Championships placed 10th in the 1650 free, 9th in the 200 fly and consoled in the 500 free
* Placed 2nd in the 200 fly and recorded 3rd place finishes in both the 200 and 500 free at Miami Invite
1996-97
* Won the 500 free in her first ever collegiate race at Nebraska
* Consoled in the 200 fly at the Big 12 Championships
1999-2000
* School record holder in the 200 free and 800 free relay
* Ranked in MU's All-Time top 5 list in five events
-1st 200 free
-2nd 500 free
-3rd 1000 free
-3rd 1,650 free
-1st 800 free relay
* Won 6 events in dual meets
* Placed 2nd in the 200 free, 4th in the 400m free, 3rd in the 1,650 free and 5th in the 200 fly at the IU Invite
1998-99
* NCAA provisional qualifier.
* Earned Big 12 Performer award for Tigers based on performances at conference meet.
* Finished in top-8 at Big 12 meet in 3 events: 5th-1650 free, 6th-200 free and 7th-500 free.
* Achieved a Senior National cut in the 200 free.
1999-2000
* School record holder in the 100 fly, 200 and 400 free relay.
* Also ranked 3rd All-Time in MU history in the 50 free.
* Won 10 events in dual meet action.
* Achieved a Senior National Qualifying time in the 50 free at the IU Invite.
* Placed in the top-6 in 2 events at the Indiana Invite.
1998-99
* Member of 200 free relay that achieved an NCAA provisional standard.
* At the Big 12 Championships finished in the top 16 in two events: 50 freestyle (13th, 23.73) and the 100 fly (13th, 58.58) also competed in the 100 freestyle (24th, 54.25).
* Won the 100 fly at the Indiana Invitational in school record time.
1997-98
* Made solid contributions at the Miami Invite placing 2nd in both the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly while consoling in the 100 and 200 free.
* Opened everyone's eyes at the Big 12 Championships by placing 7th in both the 50 free and 100 fly while also finishing in the top 16 in the 200 free.