Feb. 23, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Three more school records fell on Thursday as the Missouri men's and women's swimming and diving teams both finished the second day of the 2006 Big 12 Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving Championships in third place.
"We had a lot of energy tonight and we really did a good job of getting behind each other," Mizzou head coach Brian Hoffer said. "The atmosphere in here is electric to start with, and our swimmers really respond when their teammates are fired up."
The No. 25 Mizzou women did all the record breaking on the meet's second day, setting three individual marks. Freshman Lori Halvorson swam a 2:02.86 in the evening session's 200 IM to better her own school mark and finish ninth in the event. Junior Shannon Hogan claimed the record in the 50 free during the morning session with a time of 23.15, and she would eventually finish seventh in the event. Freshman Jill Granger also set a school record in prelims, going 4:52.70 to best her own standard, and she would finish eighth in the evening swim.
"We had a strong day on the women's side, but we feel like it won't be our best day of the meet," Hoffer said. "That takes nothing away from the three women that put up school records today. They were outstanding. We're excited to get into the strokes a little bit more in the next couple of days because we're stronger in those events."
Senior co-captain Liz Schoborg recorded an 11th-place finish in the 50 free (23.63), freshman Carly Sullivan recorded a 13th-place finish in the 500 free for the Tigers (4:54.90) and junior co-captain Amy Charley finished 15th in the 200 IM (2:06.25).
Senior diver Evan Watters was the story for Mizzou on the men's side, taking runner-up honors on the 3-meter board.
"Evan really boosted our men tonight with a great effort," Hoffer said. "He battled Eric Sehn for the title, and came up a bit short but he really helped out the team. We're starting to do what we need to do, so we're excited for the rest of the meet."
Sophomores Bennett Clark and Brandon Lee turned in the best swimming finish for the Tiger men on the day, placing seventh in the 50 free (20.51) and 500 free (4:33.62), respectively. Freshman Bryan Difford claimed eighth in the 200 IM (1:52.20).
Freshmen Jake Hoffmann (4:35.25) and Brad Hubbard (4:36.03) placed 10th and 11th, respectively, in the 500 free, while sophomore Thomas Baumann finished that event 13th (4:38.25). Senior co-captain David Darmitzel earned a 12th-place finish in the 200 IM (1:54.43) and sophomore Travis Floyd touched 13th (1:54.86).
The Mizzou women currently have sole possession of third place with 134 points, which puts them three ahead of Kansas. The Mizzou men have earned 219 points to date and trail Texas A&M for second place by 71.5 points.
Prelims start at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Mizzou Aquatics Center. For meet information, please visit www.mutigers.com.