Nov. 4, 2010
For college swimmers, the NCAA Tournament is the most important event of the year. Athletes work tirelessly through the season to improve their times and performances enough to make the cut and earn the opportunity to perform on the college sport's biggest platform.
For one talented member of the Missouri women's swimming team, senior Lauren Lavigna, a spot on that stage is already reserved.
A standout in her first three seasons at Missouri, Lavigna represented her home country of Canada in this summer's Commonwealth Games, held in New Delhi, India. Her stellar performance earned her an "A cut"--automatic qualification for the 2010-11 NCAA Tournament.
"Qualifying for NCAAs at that meet was great," Lavigna said. "Before the season even really starts, I have it, so it's great just to be able to train through some of the meets this season and just prepare for that one meet."
Lavigna's road to the Commonwealth Games began in April, when she was one of just two Canadian swimmers to qualify for the Pan-Pacific Championships, held in August. Her performance there qualified her as one of 25 representatives of Canada to compete at the international Games.
Along with her teammates, Lavigna traveled to New Delhi, India October 3-14 for competition. The experience was one Lavigna says she was honored and thrilled to be a part of.
"It was actually really amazing," Lavigna said. "It's almost like a stepping stone to the Olympics--it's a multi-sport event with an athlete village, so it's very similar to what it would be like at the actual Olympics. Representing Canada at this meet was one step closer to doing it at the Olympics for me, so it was very special."
Once there, Lavigna excelled. She clocked a time of 1:02.08 in the 100 back, a 2:13.71 in the 200 back, and a 30.17 in the 50 back. Those times were enough to earn her automatic qualification to the NCAA Tournament, a distinction her teammates and coaches are extremely proud of.
"We are very excited for Lauren," assistant head coach Roric Fink said. "She is an amazing girl and to already have the NCAA `A' qualifying time will allow her to really shoot for a great performance at NCAA's. This definitely puts her in line to become an NCAA All-American, which is a huge accomplishment."