March 14, 2000
The final meet on the docket for the women's swimming and diving team is upon the University of Missouri. The 2000 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving National Championships start on Thursday, March 16 and run through Saturday, March 18. The meet is at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind. with the preliminary session commencing at 11:00 a.m. and the finals session starting at 7:00 p.m.
The three-day affair will feature the nation's top intercollegiate swimmers and divers who met the qualifying standards during the 1999-2000 season advancing to the NCAA's, the top meet of the year. There is a limit of 270 participants allowed to compete in the championships, qualifying with either an 'A' standard or an at-large bid based on the remainder of participants who have met the 'B' standard.
Since this is an Olympic year, the meet format will be a little different than previous years. The meet will be conducted in a short-course meters pool rather than the normal short-course yards pool marking the first time the meet will not be swum in the traditional yards format.
The lone Tiger swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships is freshman Leslie Hoh. With Hoh competing at the national meet, it marks the first time since 1997 when Sarah Samuel swam the 100 and 200 backstroke, MU has been represented at the meet. The freshman sensation will be competing in the 200 and 400 IM along with the 100 breaststroke.
Hoh has already qualified for the 2000 US Olympic Trials that will be held in August in Indianapolis and will be looking to swim to the qualifying standard in the 100 breast as well giving her three events to shoot for a berth at the 2000 Olympic Games.
The sensational freshman has led Mizzou throughout the season and will be carrying the load alone at nationals. On an individual level, the 2000 women's Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships turned out spectacularly for Hoh. The All-Big 12 performer led the way for the Tigers, accounting for 51.5 team points on her way to shattering two individual school records as well as swimming on one of the Black and Gold's record-setting relays (100 Breast, 400 IM, 400 Medley Relay).