March 21, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Missouri women's swimming and diving team concluded their historic season with the final day of the 2009 NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships. The Tigers finished in 28th-place out of 48 scoring teams with 21 points.
The Tigers sent seven swimmers and one diver, marking the most competitors they've ever sent to NCAA's under the new format, which was implemented in 1992. The program also qualified their first relay team under the new format, as the team's 800 free relay squad qualified with the 10th-fastest time in the country this season.
The last day saw five Tigers in individual competition, along with two relay teams. Sophomore Lauren Lavigna kicked the day off with a 41st-place finish in the 100 back, beating out a solid portion of the 52-person field with a time of 1:57.04.
Senior Lori Halvorson competed in the 100 back and swam in 50.65, while freshman Kayla Durnil placed 38th in the 200 breast out of 50 swimmers, touching at 2:13.19. Senior Colleen Gordon raced in the 1650 free, swimming in a time of 16:33.01.
Three-time All-American Kendra Melnychuk, competing in her third NCAA Championships, took to the platform in the morning. Though it is considered to be one of her strongest events, the Canadian struggled throughout much of the event, finishing with a score of 225.55 and a 19th-place finish. The senior, who posted the highest finish in Missouri diving history the day before on the 3-meter, could not overcome three missed dives.
After scoring 31.05 on her first dive, Melnychuk nailed her second dive, an Inward 2 1/2 Somersault Pike, for 65.80 points. However, a 34.80 on dive three and a 35.10 on her fourth dive made it too difficult for her to sneak into the top-16. She closed out the event with a 58.80 on her fifth and final dive.
Missouri's 400 free relay team of Halvorson, Gordon, sophomore Francie Szostak and senior Jill Granger closed out the weekend of competition for Mizzou, as the foursome touched in 3:23.83.
