March 3, 2001
AUSTIN, Texas- Missouri's men's swimming and diving could not have asked for much more at the 2001 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships in Austin, Texas this weekend. With a point total of 3:53.50, the highest in school history by 27.5 points, the Tigers finished in fifth place, their highest finish in school history. Missouri used five school record-breaking swims on the final night to cap off a great weekend.
On a weekend where Missouri gained its' first Big 12 Champion in MATT FERRARELLI on Friday night in the 400 individual medley, the Tigers got just their second silver medalist in school history on Saturday. Sophomore DANE PEDERSEN shattered his own school record by 11 seconds in the 1650 freestyle to finish second behind Texas' JIM PULLIN. Pedersen's time was 15:34.50. He also broke the 1000 freestyle record in the same race. He posted a time of 9:25.01 in his first 1000 yards.
Pedersen was joined on the awards stand by sophomore STEPHEN DURLEY who placed sixth in a time of 15:50.05, the fourth fastest time in school history.
The only swimmer to claim a Big 12 Championship that was not a member of the University of Texas was Missouri's Ferrarelli. The sophomore reached his third final event on Saturday and finished fourth in the 200 backstroke, breaking his own school record with a time of 1:46.57, an NCAA consideration cut time.
Sophomore RADU MICLAUS was Mizzou's fourth school record-breaker on Saturday. In his first final of his career, Miclaus placed sixth in the 200 butterfly and posted a time of 1:47.59.
The fifth record of the night was in the final race of the night, the 400 freestyle relay. The team of AARON LO, MIKE CERVENKA, TYLER BELANGER and Ferrarelli finished, breaking the school record with a time of 3:00.52.
The Tigers had several consolation scorers including senior AARON LO in the 100 freestyle. Lo finished 14th overall, and posted the school's second fastest time in the preliminary race, 44.92 seconds. His time was faster than MU All-American KEVIN DEFORREST. Freshman BRADY KNIPPENBERG recorded his fastest time ever (16:14.85)in the 1650 freestyle on his way to a 12th place finish. Senior MIKE CERVENKA jumped into Missouri's all-time top five list in the 200 breaststroke in his final individual race of his career. Cervenka's time of 2:06.06 was good for 14th place. Cervenka will finish his career on four different individual top five lists. Junior SHANE WHILDIN finished 14th in the 200 butterfly for Mizzou.
FINAL RESULTS: 1. Texas 1105 2. Texas A&M 622 3. Iowa State 487.50 4. Nebraska 475.50 5. MISSOURI 353.50 6. Kansas 275.50
For all of the meet results, check www.texassports.com