Swimmers qualify for next round of state meet
November 10, 2009
By Christopher Huber
By Christopher Huber
Although many of the top swimmers from the plateau did not participate in the KingCo swim meet Oct. 31 at Mercer Island Pool, the teams from Eastlake and Skyline have plenty to be happy about.
After the meet, coaches said competition was as fierce as ever, but the real test would be at the district meet Nov. 6 and 7.
Lacking a handful of its top swimmers — they were at other meets — the Skyline Spartans finished seventh with 312 points. Eastlake took 10th in the combined-class league meet with 239 points. Mercer Island won with 586 team points.
Among the day’s highlights was Eastlake swimmer Katie Kinnear’s 100-yard breaststroke performance. She placed second to Newport’s Caroline Van Maren with a time of 1 minute, 8.49 seconds. But the time was good enough for Kinnear to qualify for her eighth and final event at state.
Eastlake coach Andy Hay was thrilled with Kinnear’s finish.
“To see that and to have her qualify for her last event at state was remarkable to say the least,” Hay said after the meet. “That’s pretty ridiculous when you consider her prelim time (1:11.29).”
The Wolves’ Kara Beauchamp also came away with an important win in the 500-yard freestyle — she made the finals with a personal-best and state time of 5:15.88. But facing tough competition from fellow swim club teammate and Liberty speedster Nicole Lecoq, Beauchamp said she pushed herself at the KingCo meet. Lecoq finished second with a time of 5:20.84.
“I just tried to go my hardest,” Beauchamp said. “(Lecoq) was pushing me and we both practice a lot at practice and we’re pretty competitive so its like my competitive side came out then.”
Hay said Eastlake as a whole swam faster than 2008 and is gearing up for a competitive run in districts and state.
“We swam faster kids this year than we did last year,” Hay said.
Eastlake took fourth in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:44.27) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:48.52). Mackenzie Rands placed second in KingCo diving competition with 316.35 points, just behind Skyline’s Kelsey Kosenkranius, who had 344.5 points.
Freshman Laurel Schy is on her way to districts in the 100-yard butterfly, but said she needs to shave a couple of seconds off her 1:03.74 KingCo time to get to state.
“It felt pretty good. I think that I could go faster. But I’ve been trying the whole season to make state.” Schy said. Heading into districts, she said she likes her chances to make state in the event. “I think they’re pretty good.”
Eastlake placed fourth in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:48.52) and sixth in the 200-yard medley relay (1:55.03).
Skyline coach Susan Simpkins said the team looks strong going into the district meet. Seven individuals and all three relay teams have qualified for state. She said the KingCo meet allows the girls to compete against fast 3A swimmers whom they don’t normally face.
“I think our girls did really well against them,” Simpkins said.
Skyline Freshman Maria Volodkevich took fourth in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:59.27, just behind Liberty’s Lecoq (1:58.41). Jessie Dart took eighth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:12.83) and the 400-yard freestyle relay team (Andi Scarcello, Sarah Elderkin, Toni Scarcello and Volodkevich) placed ninth with a time of 3:58.04. The Spartan 200-yard medley relay (Elderkin, Andi Scarcello, Abby Magee and Marissa Bennett) placed seventh in 1:57.46.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
Although many of the top swimmers from the plateau did not participate in the KingCo swim meet Oct. 31 at Mercer Island Pool, the teams from Eastlake and Skyline have plenty to be happy about.
After the meet, coaches said competition was as fierce as ever, but the real test would be at the district meet Nov. 6 and 7.
Lacking a handful of its top swimmers — they were at other meets — the Skyline Spartans finished seventh with 312 points. Eastlake took 10th in the combined-class league meet with 239 points. Mercer Island won with 586 team points.
Among the day’s highlights was Eastlake swimmer Katie Kinnear’s 100-yard breaststroke performance. She placed second to Newport’s Caroline Van Maren with a time of 1 minute, 8.49 seconds. But the time was good enough for Kinnear to qualify for her eighth and final event at state.
Eastlake coach Andy Hay was thrilled with Kinnear’s finish.
“To see that and to have her qualify for her last event at state was remarkable to say the least,” Hay said after the meet. “That’s pretty ridiculous when you consider her prelim time (1:11.29).”
The Wolves’ Kara Beauchamp also came away with an important win in the 500-yard freestyle — she made the finals with a personal-best and state time of 5:15.88. But facing tough competition from fellow swim club teammate and Liberty speedster Nicole Lecoq, Beauchamp said she pushed herself at the KingCo meet. Lecoq finished second with a time of 5:20.84.
“I just tried to go my hardest,” Beauchamp said. “(Lecoq) was pushing me and we both practice a lot at practice and we’re pretty competitive so its like my competitive side came out then.”
Hay said Eastlake as a whole swam faster than 2008 and is gearing up for a competitive run in districts and state.
“We swam faster kids this year than we did last year,” Hay said.
Eastlake took fourth in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:44.27) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:48.52). Mackenzie Rands placed second in KingCo diving competition with 316.35 points, just behind Skyline’s Kelsey Kosenkranius, who had 344.5 points.
Freshman Laurel Schy is on her way to districts in the 100-yard butterfly, but said she needs to shave a couple of seconds off her 1:03.74 KingCo time to get to state.
“It felt pretty good. I think that I could go faster. But I’ve been trying the whole season to make state.” Schy said. Heading into districts, she said she likes her chances to make state in the event. “I think they’re pretty good.”
Eastlake placed fourth in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:48.52) and sixth in the 200-yard medley relay (1:55.03).
Skyline coach Susan Simpkins said the team looks strong going into the district meet. Seven individuals and all three relay teams have qualified for state. She said the KingCo meet allows the girls to compete against fast 3A swimmers whom they don’t normally face.
“I think our girls did really well against them,” Simpkins said.
Skyline Freshman Maria Volodkevich took fourth in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:59.27, just behind Liberty’s Lecoq (1:58.41). Jessie Dart took eighth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:12.83) and the 400-yard freestyle relay team (Andi Scarcello, Sarah Elderkin, Toni Scarcello and Volodkevich) placed ninth with a time of 3:58.04. The Spartan 200-yard medley relay (Elderkin, Andi Scarcello, Abby Magee and Marissa Bennett) placed seventh in 1:57.46.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
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