June 19, 2014
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Four current Mizzou swimmers, as well as one incoming Tiger and one formerswimmer are set to compete in the 2014 Grand Prix in Santa Clara, Calif. The event will span four days starting June 19 and running thru June 22 at the George F. Haines International Swim Center.
The meet is the final stop in the 2013-14 Arena Grand Prix Series, which features top athletes who are members of USA Swimming, including Olympians Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin. Mizzou swimmers Sam Tierney, Danielle Barbiea, Abby Duncan and Anna Patterson will join incoming freshman Rachel Hayden and former standout Dominique Bouchard as part of this weekend's star-studded field.
Tierney can compete in five events starting with the 200 breast on Friday, in which he is seeded in the top 30. The senior will swim in the 50 free on Saturday before wrapping up the meet with a three-event day on Sunday (100 breast, 100 back, 200 IM). The senior is coming off a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships in the 100 breast.
Barbiea is entered in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back and the 100 fly. The 2013-14 All-American's 100 fly time of 59.81 has her seeded seventh out of 169 athletes in the event. Barbiea is one of only nine swimmers to boast a sub-1:00 seed time.
Duncan, who redshirted the 2013-14 season after transferring from Auburn, is slated for four events (100 fly, 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM). She is seeded 17th in both the 100 breast and 200 breast with seed times of 1:10.54 and 2:33.34 respectively.
Patterson will participate in five events, including the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 fly and 200 fly. She is seeded in the top 75 in all five events heading in to the weekend. The group of quality times is highlighted by a 2:17.15 in the 200 fly, which will take place on the final day of competition.
Hayden, who will join the Mizzou swimming team in the fall, will gain some valuable experience against a talented field. The Carmel, Ind., native will compete in six events (50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 back, 100 fly, 200 IM). Hayden's best seed time is in the 50 free with a 26.58. That time has her seeded in front of well over 100 swimmers.
The last stop of the Arena Grand Prix is just another stepping-stone for Bouchard as she hunts down a spot on the Canadian Olympic squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Bouchard is set to partake in three events, 100 and 200 back and 100 fly. The decorated swimmer is seeded seventh in the 200 back with a time of 2:10.18.