Mizzou Shows Competition the Door at Show Me Showdown

COLUMBIA, Missouri, October 13. THE Missouri Women's Swimming and Diving team dominated its in-state competition Saturday as they played host to the third annual Show Me Showdown. The Tigers tallied 382.5 points and victories in 14 of 16 events en route to claiming their third consecutive Showdown win. The Mizzou men earned 365 points on the day and a third straight title of their own.

"The women came out strong and showed the same intensity they put on display last night," said Missouri Head Coach Brian Hoffer. "I thought Taye Patterson and Colleen Gordon played a big part in our efforts today and helped lead the team to the win."

Senior Taye Patterson and sophomore Colleen Gordon accounted for their team's 10 individual wins Saturday. Patterson got things started for the women as she touched in first in the 100 IM in a time of 59.68, just ahead of teammates Lori Halvorson (59.80) and Lauren Cox (59.81). The three Tigers finished the race within 13-hundredths of a second of one another. Patterson also claimed victories in the 50 (26.79) and 100 back (57.76).

Sophomore Colleen Gordon picked up where left off last night by earning a hat trick of her own. She began the day with a close win in the 100 fly in a time of 57.69. Senior Arica Jacinto earned runner-up honors in the event (57.82). Gordon then went on to pick up wins in the 50 fly (26.08) and 200 IM (2:07.75). The sophomore sensation now boasts five wins on the young season.

Another multiple-event winner on the day was junior Kendra Melnychuk. Melnychuk outdove her competition and earned wins on both the 1- (270.85) and 3-meter (270.80) boards. Freshman Abby Zepeda got on the board for the Tigers as well with her third-place showing on the 3-meter board (228.60).

Canadian and Mizzou newcomer Lauren Lavigna followed up her two-win effort on Friday with another triumph in the 200 free, which she swam in a time of 1:53.42.

The Tigers also swept all four relay events Saturday in their home waters. Patterson doubled her three individual wins by leading her Tiger relay squads to victories in the 200 free (1:36.14), 200 medley (1:38.18) and 300 medley (2:49.55) relays.

The Mizzou men also swam to their third straight Show Me Showdown win today. The team's only multiple winner was sophomore Greg DeStephen, who dove to wins on the 1- (305.25) and 3-meter (323.85) boards. Senior David Boyko recorded a runner-up score in the 3-meter (268.55) competition.

After his win in the 200 free last night vs. Indiana, Dylan Lynn added a second win to his 2007-08 collection in the 100 fly in a time of 50.70. Lynn also swam to second-place honors in the 200 free (1:41.20) and 200 IM (1:54.22).

Lynn was edged in the 200 free by Tiger junior Gilad Kaufman, who won the race in a time of 1:41.12. Kaufman had a solid overall day in the pool, also finishing second in the 50 fly, 50 free and 100 fly.

Fellow sophomore Martin Cernansky showed why he is the team's top breaststroker in the 100 breast, which he swam in a time of 56.72. Cernansky went on to complete runner-up finishes in the 50 breast and 200 IM.

Another Tiger to earn a win Saturday was senior Travis Floyd in the 100 back. Floyd completed the race in a time of 50.76).

In addition to their six individual wins, the Tigers also claimed a win in the 400 free relay thanks to the efforts of redshirt freshman Cameron Sellers, Kaufman, junior captain Jake Hoffmann and Lynn. The quartet combined for the win in a time of 3:07.07.

"The men bounced back well today and we were able to use our depth and intensity to get the win," said Hoffer. "Gilad swam very well, as did Martin and Dylan. We can definitely use the momentum we gained today to help us in the coming weeks."

Special thanks to Missouri for contributing this report.

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