ST. LOUIS – Six student-athletes from the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's swimming team have earned berths to compete at the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships next month in Indianapolis, Ind. The selections for the meet were announced Wednesday afternoon by the NCAA.

Two of the qualifiers reached the meet in individual events, while the other four qualified through relay events and will only be able to swim in the relays at the national competition, which runs March 12-15 at the IU Natatorium on the campus of IU Indy.

Justice Beard returns to the National Championship stage after earning first team All-America honors in the 1,650 and honorable mention All-America accolades in the 1,000in 2024. She has been invited to swim in the 200, 500, 1,000 and 1650 freestyle events. Beard is ranked third in the 1650, fourth in the 1,000, sixth in the 500 and 18th in the 200. She is also a member of the 400 free relay team that qualified.

Ella Lantz is making her second straight appearance on the national stage and will compete in the 100 and 200 backstroke events and along with Beard is a member of the 400 free relay team. She is ranked 18th in the 100 back with a time of 55 seconds flat and is 31st in the 200 back (2:01.69).

Joining the individual swimmers are Kate Nelson, Romina Itzkovich, Madison Bottorff and Audrey Lantz who qualified in the 200 free relay. Beard, E. Lantz, Nelson and A. Lantz qualified in the 400 free relay.