Bailey Sets School Record in Loss at Missouri

Columbia, Mo. ? Junior Lauren Bailey captured three individual titles, including the 1,000-yard freestyle where she swam a school-best time of 9:53.86, but it was not enough as the Nebraska swimming and diving team fell to Big 12 rival Missouri, 170-129, Saturday at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.

 

Bailey’s time in the 1,000-yard freestyle was more than one second faster than the previous school record (9:55.00) set by former All-American Michelle Butcher in 1990. The victory moved the San Mateo, Calif., native to 4-0 in the 1,000-free this season. In all, Nebraska won five events, but dropped to 7-2 overall and 1-2 in league competition. Missouri improved to 5-2-1 overall and 2-2-1 in the Big 12.

 

“That was an amazing swim by Lauren (Bailey) to do that at this time of the year,” Head Assistant Coach Doug Humphrey said. “It really sets her up well heading into the Big 12 Championships and hopefully the NCAA Championships. That was a long-standing record she broke today. It was pretty amazing.”

 

Bailey also swam a season-best time of 2:07.58 to win the 200-yard individual medley ahead of teammates, junior Bailey Ingles (2:08.64) and freshman Christina Yemm (2:09.92). Bailey made it a trio of first-place finishes with a time of 4:52.63 in the 500-yard freestyle.

 

Junior Kate Wheeler was Nebraska’s only other individual winner on the day as the co-captain won the 200-yard freestyle in a season-best time of 1:50.22. Wheeler was also runner-up in the 500-yard freestyle (4:56.61) behind Bailey and in the 100-yard freestyle in which she tied with freshman teammate Jenny Toler with a time of 52.53. The mark was a season-best for Toler.

 

Senior Amie Buoy placed second on the one-meter dive with a score of 252.90 for the highest finish by an NU diver. Sophomore Kaci Ressler finished behind Buoy in third with a career-best score of 242.55, while senior Becky Johnson was also third for Nebraska on the three-meter dive with a score of 255.75.

 

The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Wheeler, Toler, junior Michelle Criss and freshman Jenna Stroud ended the meet with a win in a time of 3:32.89.

 

“All together, the performances were pretty good,” Humphrey said. “The efforts were definitely there and we had some great swims. We are in good position as we prepare for the Big 12 Championships in 2 ? weeks.”

 

Nebraska will now travel back to Columbia, Mo., for the 2006 Big 12 Championships, Feb. 22-25.