University of Missouri
Men's Swimmers in 6th Place at Big 12 Championships
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
March 4, 1999
COLUMBIA, Mo.- As expected, the Missouri men's swimming and diving team is in sixth place after day one of the 1999 Big 12 Championships in Austin, Tex. The University of Texas holds a huge lead with 292.50 points over Texas A&M (191.50) and Nebraska (182). Iowa State is in fourth place with 132 points while Kansas and Missouri are in fifth and sixth with 119 and 83 points respectively.
Thursday was by no means Missouri's strongest day. As a matter of fact, the first day's events were among the Tigers' weakest, although Mizzou put up some impressive times and scores. Senior Ryan Ruddy placed eighth in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1 minute, 50.30 seconds, a new Missouri school record by two seconds.
Sophomore Ryan Day became the first MU diver to reach the finals since the Big 12 Conference began. Day, a walk-on a year ago, placed eighth on the one-meter diving board. Junior Brad Duggan also performed well by placing 10th.
Missouri's 200 freestyle relay team consisting of Aaron Lo, Dave Kinsella, Brendan Smith and Ryan Ruddy placed fifth. Their time of 1 minute, 21.23 seconds was an NCAA consideration cut time and was the second fastest time in school history.
The Tigers 400 medley relay team of Peters, Ruddy, Mike Miller and Kinsella placed sixth, but just missed a school record time. Their time of 3 minutes, 18.70 seconds is an NCAA consideration cut time.
"We need to step up tomorrow and make a move," said Head Coach Brian Hoffer. "Tomorrow is a good day for us as far as our strengths are concerned."
Tomorrow, the 100-yard stroke events take place. Look for big days out of MU seniors Chris Peters (backstroke), Mike Miller (butterfly) and Ryan Ruddy (breaststroke) to step to the forefront. The Tigers will also feature super sophomores Mike Tucker and Aaron Lo in the breaststroke. Day and Duggan will compete on the three-meter diving board.
