Meet Results
 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Missouri State swimming and diving team brought in a total of nine B-standard times on day one of the Purdue Invitational, Thursday at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center.
 
Through 12 events, the Indiana women lead the field with 258 points. Florida trails closely with 235.5 points, followed by host Purdue (143), Virginia Tech (113.5), Florida International (88), Missouri State (63), Southern Illinois (47) and North Carolina (26).
 
On the men's side, Florida (300) currently stands as the front-runner. Virginia Tech (188) sits second, followed by Indiana (163), Purdue (109), Missouri State (104), Southern Illinois (59), North Carolina (49) and Navy (28).
 
Missouri State Men
Five Bears brought in five B-standard times in the finals as 10 swimmers made appearances in the night's session. While Missouri State saw success in the individual field, the Bears were hot in the relay events as well, taking third in both the 200 free relay and 400 medley relay.
 
Sophomore Antonio Thomas highlighted the men in the 500 free, taking 13^th overall with a B-cut time of 4:24.77. Minki Kang and Kevin Douglas followed suit, placing 19^th and 23^rd overall, respectively.
 
In the 200 IM, one of the men's most prominent events, four Bears represented Missouri State. Finishing fifth overall, junior All-American Artur Osvath set a new PR with a B-standard time of 1:45.46 – which beats his third-place time in the MSU record book. Kacper Cwiek and Phillip Willett picked up B-cuts as well, taking 12^th and 13^th respectively. Rounding out the event, Christopher Heye took 28^th overall with a time of 1:48.78 (B).
 
The Bears took three swimmers to the 50 free finals as Samuel Senn and Lucas Paloschi finished 10^th and 11^th overall. Senn's time of 20.26 seconds set a new PR for the sophomore and was just .01 second away from tying for fifth in the program record book. Sophomore Jacob Schultz took home the D-final, touching the wall first – 25^th overall – with a time of 20.83 seconds.
 
Men's Standings
1. Florida – 300
2. Virginia Tech – 188
3. Indiana – 163
4. Purdue – 109
5. Missouri State – 104
6. Southern Illinois – 59
7. North Carolina – 49
8. Navy – 28
 
Missouri State Women
The women's side was highlighted by four Bears – Libby Howell, Anna Miller, Josie Pearson and Loretta Stelnicki – who advanced in their individual events to the night's finals session.
 
Howell earned her spot in the C-final of the 500 free after finishing 22^nd in the prelims with a time of 4:53.04. Later that evening she set a new PR and dropped 3.61 seconds off her time to finish second her heat in 18^th overall.
 
Setting a new PR in the 200 IM prelims, Pearson touched the wall with a B-cut time of 2:01.53 to secure an appearance in the B-finals. She picked up her second B-cut of the night in the finals session where she finished 10^th overall in 2:01.55. Her prelims time now ranks second in the MSU record book.
 
Miller and Stelnicki were the final Bears to make the finals. Miller set a new PR (23.28) while finishing 18^th overall and Stelnicki claimed the D-final in 23.50 seconds. The women capped off the evening with a fourth-place finish in the 400 medley relay.
 
Women's Standings
1. Indiana – 258
2. Florida – 235.5
3. Purdue – 143
4. Virginia Tech – 113.5
5. Florida International – 88
6. Missouri State – 63
7. Southern Illinois – 47
8. North Carolina – 26
 
Coming Up Next
The Bears continue action at the Purdue Invitational tomorrow with a 9 a.m. prelims session, followed by the finals session at 5 p.m. Missouri State will compete in the 200 medley relay, 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, women's 1-meter diving, men's 3-meter diving and the 800 free relay. For all the latest information on the Missouri State swimming and diving team, visit missouristatebears.com or follow @MoStateSwim on Twitter.