EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis swimming teams opened competition on Tuesday evening at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Championships with fifth place showings in the 800-yard freestyle relay.

On the women's side, the quartet of Kelsey Roth, Isabella Gruidl, Ella Lantz and Justice Beard swam a season best time of 7:35.83 which was nearly six seconds better than their previous best time this season.

The Tritons scored 68 points in the 800-freestyle relay Tuesday, as their second team of Rebecca Bechtel, Maria Serra, Mackenzie Greenley and Ashleigh Baros finished 17th overall with its time of 7:59.14.

Drury won the event in 7:16.92 and holds the lead in the team scores after night one with 94 points. UMSL is currently tied for sixth place.

For the men, the squad of Hendrik Bechtel, Conley Savage, Aaron Wicklund and Guillem Masjuan Roca broke the school record swimming a season best time of 6:40.98 that was over four seconds better than the previous best this season.

The Tritons scored 68 points in the 800-freestyle relay as their second team of Jaxson Mahlstadt, Ryan Conner, Elvin Sabanadzovic and Harrison Miller finished 17th overall with its time of 6:57.96.

McKendree won the event in 6:27.91 and holds the lead in the team scores after night one with 96 points. UMSL is currently in fifth place.

Wednesday's competition at the Deaconess Aquatic Center will feature the 200-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle, 1,000-yard freestyle and 200-yard medley relay.  There will be preliminary rounds in the morning for the 200-IM and 50-freestyle, while the other two events will be straight finals.