March 3, 2000

COLUMBIA, Mo.- The Missouri men's swimming and diving team had two swimmers qualify for Friday night's finals in this morning's prelims on day two of the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships in College Station, Texas. The Tigers enter the second of three nights in sixth place, trailing Kansas by just five points for fifth.

As was the story yesterday, MU freshman Matt Ferrarelli was the story in this morning's preliminary races. After breaking a school-record and placing sixth in the 200 individual medley last night, Ferrarelli finds himself as the third seed in tonight's 400 individual medley final. Ferrarelli posted a time of three minutes, 53.80 seconds this morning, an NCAA consideration cut time as well as a new Missouri school record.

Joining Ferrarelli in the finals tonight will be junior Aaron Lo in the 100 breaststroke. Lo swam the seventh fastest time this morning, 56.26 seconds. It was Lo's top time this season, but not his career best.

Six other swimmers will factor in tonight's point total for Missouri. Sophomore Shane Whildin recorded Missouri's third fastest time (49.39 seconds) in school history this morning in the 100 butterfly. He is in 12th place overall and will swim in tonight's consolation race along with freshman Radu Miclaus, who swam the race in 49.83 seconds.

Miclaus will also swim in the consolation 100 backstroke race tonight. He will be joined by sophomore Andy Cole, who scored for Mizzou last night in the 200 individual medley.

Juniors Mike Cervenka and Charlie Davies will swim the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke consolation races respectively while freshman Dan Knudson will join Davies in the 100 breast.