Nov. 16, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The No. 18 Missouri women's swimming and diving team (7-1, 1-1 Big 12) put up 193 points during day one action at the Purdue Invitational on the strength of the team's solid swimming and the efforts of Kendra Melnychuk in the diving well. The Tigers stand just two points behind first-place Louisville heading into Saturday's second day of action.
"I am very proud of the way the women swam today," said Tiger Head Coach Brian Hoffer. "We had a lot of swimmers putting forth strong efforts in the pool and Kendra was a big help in 3-meter diving. I am also impressed with Jill and Colleen's NCAA "B" cut times. The women brought a lot of intensity today and I look for them to continue that the rest of the weekend."
A number of Tigers dressed to impress on Friday, including two who raced to NCAA `B' qualifying standard times. Sophomore Colleen Gordon continued her 2007-08 tear with a huge win in the 200 IM, which she swam in an NCAA "B" cut time of 2:03.46. The Texan's time advances her to third all-time in school history in the race. Junior co-captain Lori Halvorson earned fifth-place in the 200 IM in a time of 2:06.50.
Junior Jill Granger clocked a NCAA "B" cut time of her own in the 500 free, which she won in a time of 4:49.60. Taking runner-up honors to Granger was classmate Carly Sullivan, who advanced to fifth all-time at Mizzou in the event with her time of 4:54.49. Freshman Lauren Lavigna took fourth-place honors in the 500 free in a time of 4:57.15.
Also moving up in the Tiger record books on Friday were senior Taye Patterson and junior Lauren Cox. Patterson took seventh in the 50 free in a time of 23.88, which coincidentally places her seventh all-time in the event in MU history. Cox captured the 10th spot in the 50 free in a time of 24.04, good enough for 10th all-time at Mizzou.
One of Friday's most exciting events was the 400 medley relay. The Tiger team of Patterson, senior Jill Bastien, Gordon and Halvorson raced the Purdue squad down to the wire, ultimately capturing the win in a time of 3:47.97. The quartet's time is the sixth best in program history.
Although she did not break any school records, junior Kendra Melnychuk continued to shine in 3-meter diving competition. The Canadian established a new personal best score of 317.90 en route to recording her eighth win of the season on the 3-meter board.
The Tigers return to the pool Saturday for day two action in West Lafayette, Ind. Prelims are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. with finals kicking off at 6 p.m.
SATURDAY'S ORDER OF EVENTS
10 a.m. (Prelims)
400 IM
100 Fly
200 Free
100 Breast
100 Back
(1 p.m.)
Men - 3-meter diving
Women - 1-meter diving
6 p.m. (Finals)
200 Medley Relay
400 IM
100 Fly
200 Free
100 Breast
100 Back
Men - 3 meter diving
Women - 1 meter diving
800 Free Relay