COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Mizzou swimming and diving teams open three straight days of competition on Thursday, Jan. 29 at Noon CT when the squads host Southeastern Conference foe Auburn on Senior Day at the Mizzou Aquatic Center. Prior to the meet, Missouri will recognize its 15 seniors for their contributions to the program. Admission to the dual is free.
Following the dual, Missouri will swim in the this weekend's Tiger Invite, also at the Mizzou Aquatic Center. The meet, a USA Swimming sanctioned event, begins on Friday, Jan. 30 at 5 p.m., followed by sessions on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 8:15 a.m. and that evening. Admission to the meet is $5 per day for fans 13 and over. Heat sheets will be on sale for $5.
Thursday's matchup against Auburn marks the first regular season meeting between the men's squads and only the second meeting between the women's teams (Auburn leads 1-0).
The Mizzou men enter Thursday 6-1 overall and 2-0 in SEC action, while the women are 9-2 overall and 2-1 in conference competition.
Junior diver Clark Thomas is the two-time defending SEC Male Diver of the Week after standout performances against South Carolina (Jan. 17) and Drury (Jan. 23). Thomas swept both springboards in each meet, including notching a career best 426.23 points on 3-meter against Drury.
Mizzou is scattered all over the national rankings, led by senior Sam Tierney. Tierney boasts the fastest 100 breast time in the country (51.68), while he ranks third in the 200 breast (1:52.67). Three other male Tigers also find themselves in the top-10 in the rankings. Sophomore Michael Chadwick ranks second in the 100 free and seventh in the 200 free. Junior Matthew Margritier is sixth in the 50 free, while senior Mack Darragh is 10th in the 200 fly.
For the women, three different swimmers rank in the top-10. Senior Danielle Barbiea leads the way ranking third in the 100 fly, while sophomore Katharine Ross checks in at eighth in the 100 breast. Freshman Hannah Stevens has top-10 times in both the 100 and 200 back, ranking eighth and 10th, respectively. Additionally, junior Abby Duncan is just outside the top-10 in two events, ranking 11th in both the 100 and 200 breast.