Jan. 4, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. -
The University of Missouri women's swimming team suffered a setback at their training tri-meet in Tempe, Arizona. The 21st-ranked women's team suffered their first dual meet loss in two years to host and 18th-ranked Arizona State, 195-92. The loss snapped the NCAA DI's second longest active dual winning streak at 18. The women rebounded and defeated Wyoming, 212-82, and improved to 9-1 in duals this season.
"It's unfortunate that the streak had to end," said head coach Brian Hoffer, "But now we can concentrate on finishing up the season strong and training for the conference championships."
Junior Sarah Lo continued her hot swimming, winning both the 100 (58.01) and 200 backstroke (2:06.04) events and finishing second in the 200 individual medley (2:10.18). Lo teamed up with Tiffany Bohon, Liz Schoborg and Andrea Nigh to finish second in the 400 medley relay (3:54.84).
Nigh had her own winning streak snapped. She had won nine-straight sprint (50 and 100) freestyle events this season. She finished second in both events against Arizona State's Claire Hedenskog with the times of 23.84 in the 50 and 52.72 in the 100 freestyles. She also added two second place finishes as a member of the 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle teams.
Senior Katy Chandler showed no signs of jetlag; Chandler had flown into Tempe from her home in Anchorage, Alaska yesterday, finishing second in both the 200 (1:52.80) and 500 (5:02.20) freestyles to the Sundevil's Sandra Steffenson, a Swedish National Team member and Olympic qualifier.
Bohon added two second place finishes in the 100 (1:06.02) and 200 )2:23.69) breaststrokes to accompany her 400 medley relay second.
Rebecca Wolfe finished second in the 200 butterfly (2:06.27) to round out the top finishers for the Tigers.
"I'm very pleased with both of the team's performances," said Hoffer. "We performed very well and now we will continue to use this training period to build on what we need to improve on for the second half of the season."
The teams will remain in Tempe to continue training before heading back to Columbia on January 11. Both teams open the second half of the season with a home dual meet against in-state rival Southwest Missouri State on January 18 at the University Natatorium, the start time is 2:00 pm.
NOTES FROM THE DECK: Both men's and women's teams competed without the diving team, who are training at the St. Louis Rec Plex during the break...Wyoming and Arizona State had their divers at the meet and competed.