Dec. 3, 2000
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri's swimming and diving teams concluded a successful weekend at the Arkansas Invite in Fayetteville, Ark. on Sunday afternoon. The Missouri men knocked out two school records en route to a victory over the defending Division II national champions Drury College. The women continued to rewrite Missouri's all-time top five record book as the Tigers dominated the competition by 267.5 points.
Sophomore Matt Ferrarelli capped an incredible three days by breaking his third school record on Sunday. Ferrarelli, who broke school records in the 200 and 400 individual medley events on Friday and Saturday, broke the school record in the 200 backstroke on Sunday. His time of 1:47.62 ranks him seventh in the country. Ferrarelli established the top time in the country in the 400 individual medley on Saturday.
Sophomore Radu Miclaus also put himself among the nation's best on Sunday. Miclaus won the 200 butterfly in a time of 1:48.33, a school record time as well as the fifth fastest time in the country. Miclaus and junior Shane Whildin took first and second place in the event.
Senior captain Aaron Lo and sophomore Dan Knudson also starred for Missouri again on Sunday. Lo finished second in the 100 freestyle in a time of 45.45, just a tenth of a second off of his personal best time. Knudson, who won his first career collegiate race on Saturday in the 100 breaststroke, won the 200 breast on Sunday in a time of 2:06.32.
"This was such a huge weekend for Dan (Knudson),"said Head Coach Brian Hoffer. "From a confidence level, his confidence is at an all-time high right now, and this will go a long way towards the conference meet in March."
The Missouri women dominated the three-day meet over their opponents Arkansas, New Mexico, Drury and Houston. Freshman Sarah Lo, who led the Tigers on Saturday night with a first and second place finish, won the 200 backstroke on Sunday in a time of 2:04.61, the fourth fastest time in school history.
The Tigers took second, third and fifth places in the 200 breaststroke. Sophomore Leslie Hoh finished second with a fast time of 2:19.99,just off of her collegiate best time. Sophomore Tiffany Bohon vaulted into fifth place all-time at Missouri with a third place finish in a time of 2:22.35. Senior Kara Bramer took fifth in the event.
Freshman Andrea Nigh posted her best time in the 100 freestyle with a second place finish. Her time of 51.94 is the fifth fastest time in school history. Nigh also led off for the Tigers in the 400 freestyle relay, an event they won with a time of 3:26.65. Nigh, Ellen Cross, Bramer and senior captain Kim Lambert now own the eighth fastest time in the nation and the second fastest time in school history in that event. The men's 400 free relay team also won and is ranked 18th nationally.
Junior Erin Wilke contributed to the Tigers success on Sunday with a second place finish on the platform diving board. Her score was 332.30.
Hoffer was extremely pleased with the three-day weekend that the Missouri Tigers were able to put together.
"The guys defeated a very, very good Drury team this weekend and the women just dominated," said Hoffer. "Not only did we win, we were able to maintain a three-day intensity. Both teams (men and women) are ahead of where I thought we would be at this time."
FINAL SCORES
MEN: MISSOURI 1264, Drury 1250
WOMEN: MISSOURI 1162, Arkansas 895.5, New Mexico 613, Drury 606, Houston 360.5