Feb. 19, 2003

AUSTIN, Texas -

The Missouri Tiger swimming and diving teams started the first day of action at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships in strong fashion at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas. The first day consisted of only four events; the men's and women's 800 freestyle relays and 200 medley relays. But after four events both teams sit in third place. The women's team is tied with Kansas and Iowa State with 60 team points. The men trail second place Texas A&M by four points, 68-64.

The meet started with the men's 800 freestyle. The team of Matt Ferrarelli, Ryan Searby, Wade Pennington and Chris Musfeldt finished third with a time of 6:46.76. The time is a season's best for the Tigers, surpassing the previous season high of 7:00.17. Texas won the event with a time of 6:22.89, a new meet record. Ferrarelli's lead-off time of 1:39.39 is a new career best and placed him fourth on the all-time list in the 200 freestyle

The women's team set a new school record with their fifth place finish in the 800 freestyle relay. The team of Lindsay Palbykin, Lizza Igoe, Ellen Cross and Katy Chandler finished with a time of 7:25.71, breaking the old record of 7:27.29 set in 1999 by Molly Vetter, Katie Mae Fields, Cristina Souza and Tara Brooks. Palbykins lead-off time of 1:51.46 is a new career best and placed her fourth on the school's all-time list in the 200 freestyle.

In the men's 200 medley relay the Tigers again finished in third place. The team of Chris Lukas, Matt North, Radu Miclaus and Tyler Belanger finished with a time of 1:31.01.

The women's team set another school record in the 200 medley relay, finishing with a time of 1:42.54. Sarah Lo, Tiffany Bohon, Liz Schoborg and Andrea Nigh broke the old record of 1:43.85 set at last years Big 12 Championships by Amanda Morford, Bohon, Becca Dawson and Nigh. The time was also a NCAA provisional qualifying time for the Tigers. Mizzou finished third behind Texas and Texas A&M.

The Tigers return to the pool tomorrow for Day 2 of the Championships. The preliminaries start at 10:30 a.m. with the finals starting at 5:30 p.m. Complete results are will be available after each day at the Big 12 website at www.big12sports.com.

MEN'S TEAM SCORES

1. Texas - 80
2. Texas A&M - 68
3. Missouri - 64



WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES
1. Texas - 80
2. Texas A&M - 68
3. Missouri - 60
3. Kansas - 60
3. Iowa State - 60
6. Nebraska - 52