Nov. 16, 2001
COLUMBIA, Mo.- The Missouri women's swimming and diving team is off to a fast start at the Pittsburgh Invite on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. The Tigers racked up 462 points on Friday night to take an early lead over Pittsburgh (300.5), Miami (FL) (235) and Ohio State (165.5). The Missouri men are in second place after Friday's competition. The Tigers have 166 points and trail nationally-ranked Pittsburgh (490) and lead Ohio State (130) and Miami (111). The competition will continue through Sunday night.
The Tigers had a big night in the relay events, winning both the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 medley relay. The team of Andrea Nigh, Tara Brooks, Lindsay Palbykin and Ellen Cross won the 200 free relay in a time of 1:34.97. In the final event of the evening, the team of Sarah Lo, Mariona Costa, Becca Dawson and Nigh won the 400 medley relay in a school-record time of 3:48.67. Missouri's "B" relay team posted an additional 32 points for the Tigers by finishing in third place with a time of 3:52.76. That team was made up of Amanda Morford, Tiffany Bohon, Rebecca Wolfe and Tara Brooks.
Nigh, a sophomore and school-record holder in the 100 freestyle, had a big night for Mizzou. Not only was Nigh in on both relay victories, she also won the 50 freestyle. Her preliminary time of 23.56 was just off of her second fastest time in school history.
Sophomore Lizza Igoe also had a standout day for Missouri. Igoe just missed breaking the school record in the 500 freestyle in the morning prelims (4:54.54) and led four Tigers into the finals. Igoe, who now owns the second fastest time in school history, placed second, and was followed by Katy Chandler(3rd/4:58.75), Rebecca Wolfe (4th/5:00.39) and Sarah Stowe (5th/5:03.28).
The Mizzou women used the 200 individual medley to build on their lead. Nine Tigers combined to score 96 points in the 200 IM event, including six of the eight finalists. Sarah Lo led the way for the Tigers with a third place finish (2:07.35). Lo was followed by four freshmen - Becca Dawson (4th), Megan Morford (5th), Mariona Costa (6th) and Amanda Morford (7th). Junior Tiffany Bohon was the eighth place finisher. Three other Tigers reached consolation finals - Leslie Hoh (11th), Chrissy Frieh (12th) and Belinda Wood (14th).
Missouri also racked up a number of points on the one-meter diving board. Freshmen Anna Massey (4th) and Amanda Maret (5th) led the way while senior Erin Wilke finished sixth, followed by freshman Sarah Sprigg (7th).
The Missouri men were led junior Matt Ferrarelli. Ferrarelli won the 200 individual medley in a time of 1:49.31, an NCAA consideration time. The 200 IM proved to be the Tigers best event of the evening. Radu Miclaus was third in the event in a time of 1:52.27, the fourth fastest time in school history. Freshman Matt North was fifth (1:54.88) and Stephen Darmitzel came in seventh place (1:55.50).
The Tigers placed three swimmers in the finals of the 500 freestyle. Junior Dane Pedersen posted a solid time of 4:34.30 to claim third place. Freshman Josh Boyd finished just behind Pedersen for fourth place (4:34.77) while fellow frosh Blake Davis finished seventh (4:39.00).
Freshman Justin Zeimetz came in fourth place in the 50 freestyle in a time of 21.30. Sophomore Tyler Belanger was sixth for Mizzou in a time of 21.32.
Jamie Sweeney was up against his toughest competition of the season on the three-meter diving board. Sweeney finished in seventh place.