(Brock Laue)
FORT COLLINS — Niwot’s Hannah Driscoll set a new Class 4A state record on Friday.
Driscoll went a blazing 23.60 in the 50-yard freestyle during the 4A state meet at the Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC).
“I wasn’t as much looking at the time, I was just going out and having a solid swim tonight,” she said. “I didn’t really think during, I just wanted to hit the wall and have a solid swim.”
Driscoll, who appeared more focused on how Niwot performed as a team rather than individual pursuits, said her goal for Saturday’s finals competition is to enjoy it.
“I’ll be 100 percent honest: we’re going to have a ton of fun and we’re just going to go out and do our best,” she said.
In a 4A state meet where teams are trying to unseat the four-time defending state champion Thompson Valley Eagles, individuals stole the show during Friday’s prelims.
Driscoll bettered the previous 4A state record in the 50-yard free, set by Evergreen’s Lexie Malazdrewicz last season, by .03 seconds and also placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke prelims (1:04.36). She swam the anchor leg of the fourth-place 400-yard freestyle relay (3:42.52) and the lead leg of the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:40.7).
(Brock Laue)
Windsor’s star freshman Morgan Friesen set a new 4A record of her own with a 1:03.28 100-yard breaststroke, a race she was the top seed in entering the state meet. She also placed second in the 200-yard individual medley at 2:08.42.
Several of 4A’s other premier swimmers displayed their talent Friday night, as well, with Thompson Valley’s Eryn Eddy, a sophomore, swimming sizzling times of 1:52.59 in the 200-yard freestyle and 5:00.08 in the 500-yard freestyle, both top times in prelims. She also anchored the 200 (1:37.74) and 400 (3:35.27) freestyle relays to victories in prelims.
Eddy will look to repeat as the 200-yard freestyle champion and perhaps break her own 4A record, set last year, of 1:48.34 in finals Saturday. The Eagles will be swimming for their fifth consecutive 200 freestyle relay title, a race they hold the classification record in, and their second straight 400 freestyle relay title.
Evergreen, the favorites to claim the 4A crown this season, was led by junior Lindsay Morrow on Friday. Morrow won the 200 IM prelim by over three seconds with a 2:05.1 and the 100 yard backstroke by over two seconds with a speedy 55.63, as Thompson Valley’s Kelly Sheldon came in second at 57.80. Morrow also swam on the Cougars’ third-place 400 freestyle relay and fourth place 200 freestyle relay and will play a prominent role in Evergreen’s quest for the team title.
Cheyenne Mountain’s Sydney Buckley held off Brenna Bushley of D’Evelyn to win the 100-yard butterfly prelims 56.55 to 56.66. Buckley is the defending champion in the event.
Valor Christian’s Brooke Stenstrom claimed the win in the 100-yard freestyle prelims and was third in the 50-yard freestyle.
As for teams, the favorites, Evergreen, Cheyenne Mountain, and Thompson Valley, all had strong days and positioned themselves for a battle tomorrow.
First year Thompson Valley coach Dale Leonhart, the longtime coach at Grand Junction, was pleased with his squad’s performance Friday.
“We had a pretty good prelim meet,” he said. “Everybody that was top 8, stayed top 8. Our medley relay was a pleasant surprise, because we loaded the two freestyle relays and we placed 6th (in the medley relay).
“We swam very well. We had some good splits in the relays and there’s more there, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Leonhart laid out some of the goals for his team on Saturday.
“We would like Eryn (Eddy) to win both her individuals, Kelly (Sheldon) has her eye on an individual, and we would like to knock both freestyle relays out with automatic-all Americans,” he said.
Saturday promises to be an interesting fight for the team crown, but Friday had plenty of intrigue from great swims by a talented field of individuals.