Feb. 25, 2012

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Eight members of the University of Missouri men's swimming and diving team advanced to the championship finals in Saturday's prelims of the 2012 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.

Missouri saw four swimmers qualify for the championship finals in the 200 Breaststroke. Igor Kozlovskij finished fourth in 1:58.95, quickly followed by Sam Tierney in fifth in 1:59.05. Two seniors also qualified for the championship finals with Yaniv Shnaider qualified seventh in 2:01.62 and Michael Lopresti posting a time of 2:02.39 for eighth. Also in the 200 Breaststroke, Mark Conroy qualified ninth in 2:02.54, followed by Joe Hladik in eleventh in 2:05.67.

In the 200 Fly, Mack Darragh finished second in 1:47.43 earning a spot in the championship finals and meeting the NCAA B-Qualifying standard. Jason King finished seventh in the event in 1:49.79, followed by Neil O'Halloran in eighth in 1:50.68 rounding out the top heat.

Freshman Ramom Melo placed fifth in the 100 Free in 45.03, earning a spot in the championship finals. Melo was followed by John Krause in ninth, posting a time of 45.93.

Three tigers earned spots in the consolation finals of the 200 Backstroke. Freshman Austin Fish qualified ninth in 1:48.11, closely followed by senior Adam Abernathy in 1:48.72 for tenth, and Ryan Sellers in eleventh with a time of 1:49.44.

In the diving well, David Bonuchi qualified first with a score of 441.50 in the platform diving prelims. Bonuchi was followed by Mitch Harris, who qualified fifth with 258.50. Both divers earned spots in the platform diving championship finals.

Championship finals competition resumes at 6:00 PM at Mizzou Aquatic Center.