Day Three Results | Team Results | Championship Central
 
COLUMBIA – Individual titles from Josie Pearson, Libby Howell, and Loretta Stelnicki spotlighted the Missouri State women's swimming and diving team's third day of competition at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships Friday evening.
 
Missouri State leads the championship standings with 500 points. Southern Illinois moved into the runner-up spot with 393.50 and UNI rounds out the top three at 341.50.
 
"We wanted to keep the momentum off of last night's relay into the morning session," said head coach Dave Collins. "I am very pleased with how we performed today as a team."
 
Pearson started off the night with a come from behind victory to claim gold in the 400 IM, clocking in at 4:17.43. Her swim beat out defending champion Katie Taylor for Bears' key points.
 
"I got to the freestyle and gave it everything I got," said Pearson. "The race turned out in my favor."
 
In addition to Pearson, Sydney Radloff also placed within the top-five, touching the wall at 4:23.29 for fourth.
 
Continuing on her outstanding effort from last night, Howell powered back to garner the individual crown in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:48.48. This is Howell's second consecutive victory in the championship event.
 
Alex Thorson (1:50.49) and Allee Armitage (1:54.27) rounded out the Bears' finishers in the 200 freestyle, tallying third and seventh, respectively.
 
Rounding out the individual winners, Stelnicki touched the wall at the 54.71 mark to beat out the rest of the competition in the 100 backstroke. Her time was nearly a second ahead of the runner-up, and she improved her placement from the 2018 championships a year ago.
 
Sarah Allegri (56.36) and Madison Brown (56.51) also placed on the podium in the 100 backstroke, taking fourth and sixth, respectively.
 
Several other Bears made the podium including Anna Miller (55.56), Haley Allen (55.56, and Maddie Prettyman (57.12) in the 100 butterfly.
 
Kaylee Larson placed in the top-15 for the Bears in the 100 breaststroke, clocking in at 1:06.48.
 
"In addition to key points, we had depth and great swims in the B finals and consolations," said Collins.
 
In the lone relay event, Missouri State's Allegri, Pearson, Allen, and Miller nabbed the silver medal in the 400 medley. The team's time was two seconds behind first-place UNI.
 
On the 3-meter diving boards, Ashley Yarbrough (272.05), Dayana Popa (233.20), and Adriana Avila (214.45) earned a spot in the finals.
 
"I was excited for today's results with our divers," said diving coach Jim Huelskamp. "Having three divers in the finals on 1-meter and on 3-meter has not happened since 2008."
 
Championship action concludes tomorrow, prelims beginning at 11 a.m. and finals happening at 5 p.m.