Dec. 2, 2000

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Matt Ferrarelli established the nation's top time in the 400 individual medley and freshman Sarah Lo enjoyed the best night of her career as the Missouri swimming and diving teams began to pull away from the competition on Saturday night at the Arkansas Invite. The Missouri women lead second place Arkansas by 245.5 points heading into the final night Sunday with 850 points. The Mizzou men extended their lead over Drury College on Saturday. The Tigers lead 890-832.

Saturday was an incredible night for Missouri, particularly for men's swimmer Matt Ferrarelli. The sophomore won two events on the evening, including the 400 individual medley and the 100 backstroke. Ferrarelli's time in the 400 IM was 3:50.69, a new school record and the top time in the country in that event. His 100 backstroke time of 50.17 ranks third all-time in school history and is the 22nd fastest time in the country.

"Matt was great tonight," said Head Coach Brian Hoffer. "We had a plan for him in the 400 IM and he stuck with it. Three minutes and fifty seconds is an incredible time for the month of December. That time got into the NCAA Championships last year. I am willing to bet he can go faster at the conference meet."

The men also got a victory from sophomore Dan Knudson in the 100 breaststroke, his first collegiate win of his career. His time of 57.87 was a personal best. Aaron Lo, who is competing this weekend for the first time in over three weeks after battling mononucleosis, placed second in the event.

Senior Mike Cervenka was a winner in the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:39.28. That time is also an NCAA consideration cut time.

The Missouri women ran away from the field on Saturday night. Freshman Sarah Lo led the Tigers with a victory in the 100 backstroke and second place finish in the 100 breaststroke, and also swam the leadoff leg of the winning 200 medley relay team that jumped into the nation's top 15. Lo won the 100 backstroke in a time of 57.38, the third fastest time in school history. Her second place time of 1:04.22 in the 100 breaststroke is the second fastest time in school history.

"Sarah had an awesome night," said Hoffer. We knew what we were getting when we signed her. Tonight was the first of many big nights for Sarah."

Lo and sophomore Tiffany Bohon helped lead the Tigers to a first place finish in the 200 medley relay. Bohon, a native of Columbia, Mo., established a new Missouri record with a split of 29.62 for 50 yards in the breaststroke. Seniors Jeanna Willi and Kim Lambert rounded out the Tiger relay team that is now ranked in the top 15 in the country.

Missouri's 800 freestyle relay team also posted a fast time, winning the event in seven minutes, 38.14 seconds. That time is currently ranked 14th in the nation. The men's 800 free relay also won with a time of 6:49.74, ranking them 16th in the nation.

"Our relays are really clicking right now," said Hoffer. Those are fast times for this time of year and really gives both teams a lot of confidence."

The Tigers also enjoyed a solid night on the diving boards. Sophomore Jason Otte won the three-meter event with a score of 397.65. Senior Kristy Wanner, who won the one-meter event on Friday, finished second on the three-meter board on Saturday.

The Tigers hope to close things out at the Arkansas Invite on Sunday afternoon. The finals begin at 3:00 p.m.

SCORES AFTER DAY 2

WOMEN: MISSOURI 850, Arkansas 605.5, New Mexico 446, Drury 414, Houston 243.5

MEN: MISSOURI 890, Drury 832