Tiger Swimmers Travel to Omaha For Weekend Meet

June 5, 2008

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Twelve members of the Missouri men's and women's swim team will travel to the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., to compete in the 2008 USA Swimming Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational, Thursday, June 5 through Sunday, June 8. The event is the final stop of the eight-meet 2007-08 Toyota Grand Prix Series, and is the last chance for competitors to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The Olympic Trials will also be held in the Qwest Arena from June 29-July 6.

Junior Colleen Gordon (Missouri City, Texas) will compete in the 200, 400, and 800-meter freestyle, the 200 and 400 meter IM, and the 100-meter fly. Senior Jill Granger (Midland, Texas) will join Gordon in the 200, 400, and 800-meter freestyle events, and the 400-meter Individual Medley. Sophomore Melissa Jamerson will swim in the 100 and 200-meter fly events.

Senior Lori Halvorson (Tulsa, Okla.) has already qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 200-meter freestyle, but will use this weekend as a tune-up by competing in the event. She will also participate in the 100-meter freestyle and the 200-meter IM. Sophomore Morgan McCleery (Celina, Texas) and senior Kayla Bowcutt (Clive, Iowa) will both be swimming in the breaststroke.

The men's squad will also send six swimmers to the event, with three seniors and three sophomores scheduled to participate.

Senior Jake Hoffman (Sugarland, Texas) will swim in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke. Gilad Kaufman (Netania, Israel), also a senior, will swim in the 50-meter freestyle, the 200-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly.

Sopohmore Spenser Lauver, a native of Omaha, Neb., will compe in four events over the weekend, as he is scheduled to race in the 200, 400, and 1500-meter freestyle and the 200-meter fly. Fellow sophomore Cameron Sellers (Valley Center, Kan.) will race with Lauver in the 200 and 400-meter freestyle events.

Sophomore David Dorak (Two Rivers, Wis.) and senior Byron Carlisle (Frisco, Texas) are scheduled to compete as well. Dorak will participate in the 100 and 200-meter fly, while Carslisle will swim in the 100-meter backstroke.

For more information and updates throughout the weekend, visit www.mutigers.com.