March 7, 2007
Missouri sophomores Jill Granger and Kendra Melnychuk will make their debuts at the NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships on Thursday at the University Aquatics Center in Minneapolis.
Granger will be competing in three events over the three-day event. She will swim the 500 free on Thursday, the 400 IM on Friday and the 1650 free on Saturday. The Midland, Texas, native has posted the 19th-fastest time in the mile this season and sixth among sophomores.
Melnychuk, who is from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, will also compete all three days as she is entered in the diving competition on every board. The one-meter will be contested on Thursday, the three-meter on Friday and platform on Saturday. She is riding an emotional high following the NCAA Zone D Qualifying Meet last weekend in Austin, Texas, where she entered the final day needing to win the platform portion and then did so as one of the top-15 scores among all five zone competitions.
Both Tigers will be aiming for All-America status, something that hasn't happened to a Mizzou women's swimmer or diver since 1982. A year ago, Evan Watters was a two-time All-America honoree in men's diving.
Additionally, Friday's and Saturday's finals will be broadcast live on ESPN360 from 7-10 p.m.