ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's and women's swimming teams opened its 2025-26 season with a dual meet against Saint Louis University at the Simon Rec Center in St. Louis on Thursday evening. The Triton men fell to the Billikens 155-58 while the women fell 154-64.

Justice Beard led the way for the Triton women winning both the 1,000 and 200 freestyle races. She turned in a time of 10:30.28 in the 1,000 free and was joined atop the podium by teammate Libby Smith who was second in the event at 10:58.15.

Beard came back later in the evening and claimed the top spot in the 200 free with a time of 1:54.43. She finished nearly four seconds ahead of SLU's Meghan Eng.

Beard swam the anchor leg on the 200 free relay team along with Audrey Lantz, Madison Bottorff and Romina Itzkovich. The team finished with a time of 1:38.91.

Itzkovich finished second in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:08.40 and second in the 100 fly at 1:00.18. A. Lantz was the runner-up in the 100 free touching the wall at 55.73 while Kayla Rompala was fourth in the event at 56.92.

E. Lantz came in second in the 100 back with a time of 58.98 and Smith took third in the 500 free at 5:22.19.

On the men's side it was Mikael Larsson leading the way winning the 1,000 free in a time of 9:59.33 and was second in the 500 free at 4:44.56.

Kaleb Suitor and Lathan Parks finished 1-2 in the 100 fly. Suitor hit the wall first at 51.09 followed by Parks at 51.79. Mattia Nardi claimed the second spot in the 200 IM in a time of 1:56.57.

UMSL's 200-yard medley relay quartet of Gabriel Wells, Nardi, Suitor and Parks finished second with a time of 1:33.88. The Triton 200-yard free relay squad of Parks, Gentry Comstock, Wells and Joan Cortadellas Llubera also came in second at 1:25.73.

UMSL returns to the pool on Saturday (Oct. 25) hosting William Jewell at 2 p.m. in its home opener at the UMSL Swimming Pool.