LAWRENCE, Kan. – Six members of Missouri State's swimming and diving combined for a pair of top-ten finishes, with the men finishing second and the women coming in sixth, at the CSCAA Open Water Championship held at Lone Star Lake in Lawrence, Kan. here Saturday morning.
 
Among the male competitors, Minki Kang took the fourth-place spot with a time of 59:34.61, with only 17 seconds separating him from the top finisher. Newcomer Pawel Krawczyk crossed the finish line 11^th overall, earning a time of 1:00:02.15. Rounding out the Bears' participants, Antonio Thomas finished 13^th at 1:00:34.24. Sixty-two males made up the competition field.
 
"We raced really tough today as a team," said Kang. "Although it was our first open water competition, we had a lot of energy coming in and put our best efforts to the race."
 
In the women's race, Leticia Rodrigues was Missouri State's top female finisher earning 24^th with a time of 1:05:33.13. Three spots behind Rodrigues, Liberty Howell collected the 27^th spot at 1:06:30.96. Loretta Stelnicki nabbed the 29^th slot to round out the Bears at 1:06:37.81.
 
"Swimming in this open water meet was a great experience, and a fun way to start our season," said Rodrigues. "I am proud of my team and cannot wait for the season ahead!"
 
The 5,000-meter race consisted of a two-loop swim around a predetermined course at Lone Star Lake, with a total of 14 schools competing.
 
"I am very proud of how our distance crew did today," said head coach Dave Collins. "It was a great event to start the season, and I felt our swimmers were prepared and raced very tough. Open water racing is much different than pool swimming, so this provided us with a unique opportunity to train and attack the first training cycle of the season!"
 
The Bears will take a short break before heading to the Missouri Show-Me Showdown in Columbia, Mo. on Friday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.

For all the latest information on the Missouri State swimming and diving team, visit missouristatebears.com or follow @MoStateSwim on Twitter.

Men's Team Results
 
1. Missouri 6
2. Missouri State 28
3. Carson Newman 50
4. TCU 54
5. Texas A&M 55
6. George Washington 55
7. Northern Michigan 66
8. Southern Illinois 97
9. Providence 112
10. Fresno Pacific 131
11. Albion 158
12. Wabash 165
 
Women's Team Results
 
1. Missouri 7
2. Rice 17
3. Kansas 40
4. George Washington 68
5. TCU 74
6. Missouri State 80
7. Rutgers 81
8. Texas A&M 91
9. UNC Asheville 108
10. North Florida 113
11. Fresno Pacific 114
12. Duquesne 137
13. Northern Michigan 138
14. Colgate 184