Jan. 29, 2007

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri juniors Lex Howard and Elizabeth Robe were named this week's Lathrop & Gage Varsity M Student-Athletes of the Week for their exceptional contributions to their respective athletic teams, combined with their strengths in the classroom and time spent in the local community.

A native of East Wenatchee, Wash., Howard is a general studies major and holds a 3.19 grade-point average. As a member of the Tiger swimming team, Howard earned a sixth-place finish in the 100 butterfly and 10th in the 100 backstroke at the 2006 Big 12 Conference Championships. During his sophomore season, he also won the 100 and 200 fly to help propel the Tigers to their first-ever dual meet win over Texas A&M.

Robe, a member of the Tiger swimming and diving squad, holds a 3.97 grade-point average in biology. The Waukesha, Wis., is a two-time NCAA qualifier as a thrower. Over the past two years she earned All-Big 12 Conference honors three times in the indoor and outdoor seasons. This season, Robe, a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative, took second at Purdue's Gene Edmonds Cup and the Big 12 / Mountain West Conference Challenge in the shot put. On the academic front, is a two-time United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Robe and most of the track and field squad travel to Bloomingfield, Ind., for the Indiana Relays Feb. 2-3 while the distance runners head to the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Ind., the same days. All done with the regular season, the men's swimming and diving team compete at the Big 12 Championships Feb. 14-17 in College Station, Texas.