March 2, 2000

COLUMBIA, Mo.- The Missouri men's swimming and diving team scored 82 points on the first day of competition at the 2000 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships in College Station, Texas on Thursday. The Tigers are in sixth place, but are as close to the fifth spot as they have ever been after day one. Mizzou trails Kansas by just seven points, and the Tigers look to be strong in Friday's events.

Freshman Matt Ferrarelli headlined the Tigers on Thursday in the 200 individual medley event. Ferrarelli set a new school record with a sixth place time of one minute, 53.19 seconds. Sophomore Andy Cole placed 15th overall with a time of one minute, 53.40 seconds, the third best time in school history.

Junior Aaron Lo swam a lifetime best in the 50 freestyle, but failed to reach the finals. His 20.49 seconds to lead off the 200 freestyle relay was a personal-best time and the fifth fastest time in school history. The relay placed sixth, but in a time of one minute, 22.19 seconds, the fourth fastest in MU history. Lo ended up finishing 11th overall in the 50 freestyle.

The second day of competition begins at 11:00 a.m. on Friday morning with the preliminary events, with the finals later on that night. Texas, the favorite to win the national title this season, is the leader with 318 points. Nebraska (185), Iowa State (174) and Texas A&M (152) hold the next four spots with Kansas and Missouri battling for fifth place.

*Winner and MU Only

Standings After Day 1
1. Texas		318
2. Nebraska		185
3. Iowa State		174
4. Texas A&M		152
5. Kansas		89
6. Missouri		82


200 Free Relay
1. Texas		1:18.41%
6. Missouri		1:22.19 (4)
 Lo [20.49 (5)], Smith, Cervenka, Whildin


500 Free
1. S. Goldblatt, UT	4:20.42%
20. Dane Pedersen	4:37.50 [4:34.49p]
28. Mike Cervenka	4:41.71
30. Randy Swift		4:46.71
ex. James Herrick	4:44.44


200 IM
1. N. Dusing, UT	1:45.50%&
6. Matt Ferrarelli	1:50.64 [1:50.19p*^]
15. Andy Cole		1:54.40 [1:53.40p (3)]
21. Ryan Nevins		1:56.47 [1:56.18]
23. Adam Shapley	1:58.70 [1:57.74]
24. Dan Knudson		2:01.75 [1:59.16]
ex. Radu Miclaus	1:55.82
ex. Kyle Sanders	2:01.32


50 Free
1. B. Jones, UT		19.69%
11. Aaron Lo		20.54
21. Brendan Smith	21.18 [21.03]
36. Jon Baumgart	21.68
37. Brent Pitzer	21.72
38. Charlie Davies	21.79
ex. Shane Whildin	21.45


1-meter Diving
1. E. Cook, UT		564.80#
12. James Sweeney	440.20
13. Jason Otte		389.50


400 Medley Relay
1. Texas		3:11.32%
6. Missouri		3:21.59
 Cole [51.00 (3)], Lo, Miclaus, Cervenka


%NCAA Automatic Standard
*NCAA Provisional Standard
#NCAA Zone Qualifying Standard
&Big 12 Meet Record
^MU School Record
(#)Rank on MU All-Time top-5