Nov. 24, 2002
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -
On the final day of competition at the Minnesota Invitational, the Missouri Tiger women's swimming and diving team had an impressive performance, but it wasn't enough to move up in their position. For the first two days the women's team finished each day in 2nd place. The women's team almost caught host Minnesota, as the Gophers took the lead from #14 Wisconsin and never relinquished it. Minnesota finished in first with 696 points followed by Mizzou (676), Wisconsin (652) and #16 Notre Dame (500.50).
For the second consecutive day Sarah Lo set a new personal best and provisionally qualified for the NCAA's. Yesterday it was in the 100 backstroke (1:04.62), today she added the 200 backstroke, not only was her first place time of 2:00.05 a new personal best and an NCAA provisional time, but it also set a new school record. Her time broke the previous time of 2:01.87 set by Rikki Janes in 1997. Her time is also the 10th fastest time in the country this season.
The Tigers didn't have to wait long to celebrate a similar achievement. In the very next event junior Andrea Nigh won the 100 freestyle with a time of 50.64. Her time broke her own school record of 50.72 set last season and provisionally qualified her for the NCAA's as well. The victory also extended Nigh's winning streak in the 50 and 100 freestyle events to nine (four wins in the 50 and five wins in the 100). Her time is also the ninth fastest time in the country this season.
Nigh teamed up with Lindsay Palbykin, Amanda Morford and Ellen Cross to win the 400 freestyle relay with a season's best time of 3:27.92. Morford and Cross also added some top finishes in individual competition. Morford placed sixth in the 200 backstroke (2:05.51) and Cross placed fifth in the 100 freestyle (52.39). Amanda's twin sister Megan Morford and Columbia native Tiffany Bohon put in strong showings in the 200 breaststroke. Bohon placed fourth with a time of 2:21.61 and Morford sixth with a personal best time of 2:22.07. Mariona Costa won the 2-- breaststroke consolation championship with a time of 2:22.04.
Rebecca Wolfe (2:01.94), Becca Dawson (2:04.71) and Liz Schoborg (2:09.50) each placed second, fourth and sixth respectively in the 200 butterfly to round out the top Tiger scorers.
The Tiger's will break for the Thanksgiving holiday before resuming their season against the University of Kentucky on December 7 in Lexington, Kentucky.