University of Missouri
Big 12 Championships
Missouri Places Third at Big 12 Championships
2/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 26, 2011
Austin, Tex.-- Missouri finished third in the Big 12 Championships, which ended Saturday night in Austin. The Tigers totaled 588.5 points overall.
In the first final of the night, Dominique Bouchard made history for Mizzou, winning the conference title in the 200 back in 1:52.02. Her time not only won her the event, it set a meet record and a new Big 12 Conference record, topping the previous record of 1:52.35 she set earlier this year.
Bouchard's win is the first ever championship for Missouri in the 200 back, and the first swimming event championship since Kayla Durnil took the 200 breast title in 2009. It is only the fourth women's swimming championship in school history.
When combined with Loren `Figgy' Figueroa's 1-meter diving championship, won last night, Bouchard's victory is even more historic. Bouchard and Figueroa's wins mark the first time in school history the Tigers have won multiple events at the Big 12 Championships in the same year. Lauren Lavigna placed second in the event for the tigers, swimming a 1:54.18. Francie Szostak finished 13th in 1:57.81, and Brigette Selbert placed 16th in 2:04.06. In the final diving event of the meet, the platform dive, Christina Gailey placed fourth for Missouri, finishing with 292.80 points. Swimming in the 'B' finals of the 100 free, Lisa Nathanson placed 13th in 50.55, while Sydney Schaefer finished 16th in 51.33. Amanda Masters claimed third in the 200 breast finals with her personal best 2:11.90 finish. The time also stands second in the Missouri record books. Rachel Ripley placed eighth, finishing in 2:15.36. Emy DiBenigno (2:14.63) and Morgan McCleery (2:15.24) both had personal best times and set Missouri top ten records with their ninth and tenth place finishes, leading the 'B' finals. Melissa Jamerson placed ninth overall in the 200 fly, finishing in 2:00.13. Lexi Spivak placed 21st in 2:07.87, while Anastasia Sotiropoulos finished 22nd in 2:07.97. In the last event of the evening, the 400 free relay, Mizzou's 'A' team of Cunningham, Szostak, Bouchard and Nathanson finished in third place in 3:19.99, good for the fourth best time in Missouri history. Overall this week, the Mizzou women's team had 33 swims and diving scores that cracked the All-Time Top Ten list at the University of Missouri, including six new overall Top Times and one new Big 12 Conference and meet record (200 back). Missouri finished in third place with 588.5 points, easily swimming past the fourth-place Kansas team (409.5 points). The historic meet was highlighted by the two individual championships in the 1 meter dive (Loren Figueroa) and the 200 back (Dominique Bouchard). The amazing accomplishments by this Tigers squad give them high hopes for rest of the postseason. Divers next compete at the Diving Zone Championships held in Austin, Tex. March 10-12, while select swimmers for Missouri will next compete at the NCAA Championships, also held in Austin, March 17-19. ###MIZZOU SWIMMING AND DIVING###
Players Mentioned
