Missouri capped off its first-place showing at the Mizzou Invitational this weekend by setting four school records on Saturday in Columbia.
Here are some highlights from the final night of the three-day meet:
**Chadwick lowers 100-yard freestyle record**
At last year’s midseason invitational, Michael Chadwick was significantly more rested than he was for the Mizzou Invitational. Despite this, he posted a best time in the 100-yard freestyle, his signature event.
Chadwick blasted a 41.80 in the morning, a drop of nine-hundredths of a second off his previous best.
“Getting significantly less rest than I did a year ago and going a little bit faster is always encouraging,” he said.
**Stevens builds off strong showing at College Challenge**
Last Saturday, Hannah Stevens was in the midst of her first meet as a member of Team USA. A week later, the junior was back in Columbia representing the Tigers.
Stevens swam a 200-yard backstroke lifetime best of 1:52.95 in the morning, then dropped even more time in the evening, finishing an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 1:51.73.
“She’s still learning how to swim that event …” coach Greg Rhodenbaugh said. “But boy that was a great way to kind of end her individual swims at the meet.”
**Griffin set for NCAAs**
After touching the wall in 1:40.67 in the 200-yard backstroke Saturday night, senior Carter Griffin will almost certainly qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Now that Griffin has notched a fast-enough time, he will not have to rest for Southeastern Conference Championships in February. He can wait until NCAA Championships in March to ease off his training.
“It’s been a little nerve wracking going into SECs not knowing for sure whether I’m going to qualify for NCAAs,” he said. “So it’s nice to have that under the belt and just know that I’m preparing with NCAAs in mind.”
**Bouchard back in the water**
Dominique Bouchard, who made the 2016 Rio Olympics as a member of Team Canada, showed why she is one of the world’s best backstrokers on Saturday.
In her first swim after the Olympics, the Missouri graduate finished the 200-yard backstroke with a preliminary time of 1:51.75.
Bouchard did not swim in the evening due to sickness.
**Relays qualify for NCAAs**
Five relays will be contested at the NCAA Championships in March. After the Mizzou Invitational, the Tigers have qualified for four relays on the women’s side and all five men’s relays.
“The meet was good,” Chadwick said. “Overall, I thought everyone did a great job, and it was definitely the best performance we’ve had at the Mizzou invite.”
Chadwick was an integral part of the Missouri men’s relays. He swam on the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays and also anchored the 200- and 400-yard medley teams.
On the women’s side, Haley Hynes swam on three of the qualifying relays. She swam backstroke on the 200- and 400-yard medley relays, posting a 50-yard backstroke split of 24.05, the fastest split in school history.
**Jennifer King posts quick 200-yard backstroke time**
As a freshman from Scotland, Jennifer King is still adjusting to swimming in yards rather than meters. You wouldn’t have known if you saw her swim Saturday night.
King finished second in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:53.60, which will almost certainly qualify for NCAA Championships.
“The race went really well,” King said. “I feel like I executed the way I wanted to, and the results payed off.”
**Up next:** The Missouri divers are back in action on Jan. 1 at the Tennessee Diving Invitational. The swimmers return to the competition pool on Jan. 6 for a dual meet against the Louisville Cardinals in Louisville, Kentucky.