Huskers Head to Columbia for Missouri Invite

Missouri Invite
Dec. 4-6
Columbia, Mo.
10 a.m. (prelim sessions); 6 p.m. (finals sessions)

Huskers Head to Columbia for Missouri Invite
The Nebraska swimming and diving team heads to Columbia, Mo., this weekend as it takes part in the three-day Missouri Invite from Dec. 4-6. Nebraska is one of nine teams participating in the Invite, joining Missouri, Missouri S&T, Boise State, Colorado State, Drury, Southern Illinois, Arizona State and North Dakota.

The Huskers are coming off a first-place finish at the Husker Invitational on Nov. 19-22. NU finished with 1,901 team points and six first-place finishes. Rice finished second with 1,309 points.

Nebraska has yet to face any of the teams in the upcoming Invite yet this year, but does face off with Missouri later this season. The Huskers return home next weekend for a dual meet with South Dakota State on Dec. 12.

Pool Points
+  Senior Mariah Hutchinson had an outstanding meet at the Husker Invitational, finishing first in three events and second in another. She was also a part of three Nebraska winning relay teams, accounting for all six of NU's wins during the weekend. Hutchinson is among the top five in Nebraska's performance list this season in seven events.

+  Nebraska reclaimed the title at the Husker Invitational on Nov. 22. The Huskers won the Invite in its first year of existence two years ago in 2007-08 and finished fifth last year.

+  Freshman Kelsey Larson continued her strong start to her collegiate career at the Husker Invitational, claiming four top-five finishes. Larson now has 12 top-five finishes in 12 races so far this season.

Review: Nebraska Takes Title at Husker Invitational
Nebraska finished atop the standings at the Husker Invitational after a strong final session at the Devaney Natatorium on Sunday, Nov. 22. The Huskers had seven top-three finishers on the day and finished the meet with 1,901 team points. Rice came in second with 1,309 points, followed by South Dakota State with 725.5 and UNO with 568.5.

Nebraska's best race of the day came in the 100-yard freestyle, as the Huskers finished 1-2-3. Mariah Hutchinson won with a time of 52.27, while NU's Hayley Martin and Jess Andrews tied for second as each touched at a time of 53.01. Hutchinson also won the 100-yard butterfly, giving her three event wins on the weekend. NU's Kelsey Grushecky came in second in the event.

The Huskers also had a pair of swimmers tie for second place in the 200-yard breaststroke, as Kaitlin Arntz and Hayley Martin each finished with a time of 2:20.98. South Dakota State's Katie Budahl took first in the event with a time of 2:14.07.

Tien Tran of Iowa State took home the platform diving title, which took place before the swimming finals, with a score of 220.95. Tran made it three-for-three at the Husker Invitational, as she also won the one and three meter dives. Nebraska's Amy Herman came in second with a score of 204.20.