Mizzou Invite Comes To A Close With More Quick Times, A Couple Of Near A Cuts

COLUMBIA, Missouri, November 23. THE Mizzou Invitational wrapped up this evening with several swimmers earning a second victory of the meet, and a few near-misses on NCAA A cuts. Arkansas won the women’s meet with 809 points, ahead of Utah (698) and Missouri (697). Missouri won the men’s meet with 1,255 points, followed by Utah (937.5) and West Virginia (672).

Florida International’s Johanna Gustafsdottir, who earlier in the meet won the 200 IM, picked up a second victory with a 1:55.74 in the 200 back. Anna Mayfield of Arkansas qualified first this morning in 1:55.14, but faded to second in 1:56.06. Sonia Perez Arau, also of Florida International, swam a 1:57.35 to take third. In the men’s 200 back, Mizzou freshman Carter Griffin posted one of the fastest times in the country this year with a 1:41.67, just missing the A cut of 1:41.41. West Virginia’s Bryce Bohman hung with Griffin for most of the race before falling off the pace slightly for a 1:42.95. Austin Fish of Mizzou took third in 1:43.29.

Dani Barbiea continued her impressive meet for the Tigers in the 100 free, holding off Utah’s Traycie Swartz for the win, 49.01 to 49.04. Barbiea swam a 48.80 this morning while Swartz came in at 49.11. Arkansas’ Nina Drolc dropped almost a second from her prelim swim to get third in 49.31. This morning, Missouri’s Max Grodecki swam a 43.19 in the men’s 100 free, but he didn’t quite have enough left in the tank to get past Utah’s Nick Soedel tonight. Soedel touched first in 43.39, with Grodecki in second at 43.66. Michael Chadwick, also of Missouri, swam a 44.09 for third.

Utah’s Sami Zuch proved to be best distance swimmer at the meet, winning the women’s mile in a B cut time of 16:19.30, with Arkansas’ Nicole Menzel (16:26.09) and Julia Kucherich (16:32.94) in second and third. Utah’s Bence Kiraly dominated the men’s mile, winning by nine seconds in 15:02.41. Mizzou picked up the next two spots with Eegan Groome (15:11.92) and Martin Wallace (15:32.72).

Arkansas’ Nikki Daniels flew through the women’s 200 breast on her way to a 2:09.34, just a second off the B cut of 2:08.29 and one of few swims under 2:10 thus far. Abby Duncan, who earlier in the meet won the 100 breast, finished second in the longer distance with a 2:10.39, while Mizzou’s Katharine Ross placed third in 2:11.44. Meanwhile, the Missouri men’s breaststroke group was at it again in the 200, sweeping the top four spots. Sam Tierney came oh-so-close to the A cut in the event, touching in 1:54.38. The A cut stands at 1:54.10. Igor Kozlovskij touched second in 1:55.23, while Michal Rokita’s 1:58.80 was good for third.

UC Davis earned its first win of the meet as Hilvy Cheung outlasted the field in the women’s 200 fly with a 1:57.60. Utah’s Petra Soininen (1:58.52) and Missouri’s Anna Patterson (1:58.93) also broke 2:00 in the event to make up the top three finishers. Mack Darragh broke the Missouri school record in the 400 IM earlier in the meet, and tonight he followed that up with a win in the 200 fly. Darragh finished in 1:44.64, ahead of his two teammates, Andrew Phillips (1:45.46) and Daniel Graviss (1:47.68).

The Arkansas women closed out the swimming portion of the meet with a win in the final 400 free relay. Susanna White, Nina Drolc, Anna Mayfield and Maddie Monroe posted a 3:17.65 to better Missouri (3:19.67) and Utah (3:20.45). Arkansas’ time is only a second off the A cut in the event. The Mizzou foursome of Max Grodecki, Michael Chadwick, Logan Mosley and Sam Tierney closed out the meet with a 2:53.70, just .22 off the A cut of 2:53.48. Utah (2:55.92) and West Virginia (2:56.37) rounded out the top three.

Arkansas’ Kesha Naylor won the women’s platform diving event with 268.85 points, with Utah’s Kersten Merry (245.85) and UNEL’s Nicole Schwery (238.15) in second and third. Mizzou’s David Bonuchi won the men’s platform with 350.30 points, ahead of Utah’s Jake Crayne (313.35) and Southern Illinois’ Kegan Skelton (284.05).

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