SIU’s women’s swimming and diving teams lead the Missouri Valley Conference Championships after senior Sherry Zhang won her third straight 1-meter dive title.

“I just tried to relax and not think too much about it,” said Zhang, who won the 1-meter dive for the third straight time.

She will have a chance to win her fourth straight 3-meter dive Saturday. 

Missouri State’s Dora Kiss won her fourth straight 500-yard freestyle title. Kiss led for most of the race. SIU sophomores Bryn Handley and Kelsie Walker finished in second and third, respectively.

“It’s a different feeling this year,” Kiss said. “I felt confident, and well-prepared, but [the team standings] has never been this close before.” 

The Salukis lead the Bears 284-281, not far behind Missouri State is Northern Iowa with 222 points.

This is the first time SIU has led after the second day of competition in nine years.

“Right now we’re nickel and diming, every point counts,” coach Rick Walker said. “We’re still three points up, I didn’t expect to be 100 points up — but we’ll take it.”

The action starts at 11 a.m. Friday with the preliminary round of the 400-yard individual medley.

Evan Jones can be reached at [email protected] or at (618)-536-3304