In a close meet against South Carolina on Jan. 29, the Missouri swim and dive women’s team came out victorious 152-148, while the men’s side fell short against the Gamecocks 150-144. This marks the men’s first loss since Nov. 5 against Michigan and extends the women’s winning streak to four meets.
Fifth year swimmer Sarah Thompson dominated on the women’s side, winning the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly. Thompson also assisted in leading the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams to victory. Additionally, Thompson broke the Carolina Natatorium record in both the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly at 52.45 seconds and 52.33 seconds respectively.
Senior Megan Keil added four more first-place finishes for the Tigers. Keil helped lead the 400 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay teams to victory while picking up individual victories in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle races.
Keil and Thompson teamed up with junior Meredith Rees and senior Kayla Jones to win the 200 medley relay in 1:38.07, setting a pool record. Additionally, Keil and Thompson swam with junior Amy Feddersen and sophomore Sierra Smith to win the 400 freestyle relay at a pool record 3:16.33.
South Carolina graduate diver Brooke Schultz added points for the Gamecock women, winning the 1 meter and 3 meter diving events. The Gamecocks claimed the top three spots in the 100 breaststroke and 200 butterfly races, but in the end, Missouri outperformed South Carolina.
On the men’s side, senior Jack Dahlgren won the 100 and 200 backstroke races, setting pool records for both at 46.48 seconds and 1:42.64 respectively. Junior Ben Patton won the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM races. Patton also set a pool record in the 100 breaststroke race with a 52.97 second finish.
However, the power of the Gamecocks could not be overcome. Senior Phil Costin won the 100 and 200 freestyle races, and South Carolina swept the top four spots of the 500 and the top three in the 1000 freestyle races. This performance snapped the Tigers’ winning streak, handing South Carolina a victory on the men’s side.
The next competition for the men’s and women’s teams will be in Columbus, Ohio at the Ohio State Winter Invitational from Feb.11-13.
Edited by Brandon Haynes | bhaynes@themaneater.com