LAWRENCE, Kan. – Redshirt freshman Giovanni Gutierrez Lozano (Lima, Peru) of the Mizzou men's swimming program took home the men's national title at the second annual College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) National Collegiate Open Water Championship Saturday morning at Lone Star Lake in Lawrence, Kansas. Additionally, the Tiger men easily won the men's team title with eight points.

Gutierrez Lozano led a one-two-five-seven finish by the men's program to claim the title at the event. He notched a 59:25.05 to win the 5,000 meter race (3.1 miles), ahead of Tiger sophomore Giovanny Lima (Sao Paulo, Brazil), who recorded a 1:01:59.30. Also competing on the men's side were freshman Carter Grimes (Las Vegas, Nevada), who took fifth in 1:02:13.12, and junior Jacob Wielinski (Mounds View, Minnesota), who placed seventh in 1:04:12.31.

Four Mizzou women also competed in the women's, led by a seniors Kira Zubar (Chaska, Minnesota) and Sharli Brady (Burlington, Kentucky). Zubar narrowly bested Brady for seventh, as she recorded a 1:05:31.60 to Brady's 1:05:31.85. Additionally, sophomore Azra Avdic (Skokie, Illinois) finished 10th in 1:05:41.65 and junior Courtney Evensen (Golden Valley, Minnesota) placed 11th in 1:05:50.79.

The Tiger swimming and diving programs officially open the 2017-18 season at the 12th annual Show-Me Showdown on Friday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.