One last feather in Pump's cap.

That's what Butler YMCA swim team members Brianna Keelan, Jordan McElhaney, Nicolette Krause and Morgan Morrison provided for legendary coach John "Pump" McLaughlin at last summer's state meet - without realizing it at the time.

The quartet combined to swim the 9- and 10-year-old girls 200-yard freestyle relay in 1 minute and 54.13 seconds in that meet, setting a state record for their age group.

When the YMCA swimming national top 16 times for the 2003-04 season were released recently, that time also turned out to be the fastest in the country.

"To think they did that a day and a half before Pump's death is amazing," said Butler High swim coach Amber Schmeider said. "Pump was at that state meet and pumped his fist in the air when he heard what their time was.

"None of us knew at that moment it'd be the nation's best," she added.

McLaughlin died the morning after returning home from the YMCA state meet.

"Those girls can forever feel that sense of pride, knowing how happy they made him," Schmeider said.

Three of the four girls swam for McLaughlin on his Penn Valley team during the summer, as well as at the Y.

"For a long time he was the only coach they ever had," Schmeider said.

Keelan, McElhaney, Krause and Morrison are believed to be the Butler Y's first relay team to produce a fastest national time. Individual swimmers Eric Namesnik and Mike Kriley have led the nation in past years.

"Either way, they're in pretty select company," said former Butler Aquatics Club president Jim McElhaney.

The second-best national time in the event this year was 1:58.76, which was recorded by the Greensburg YMCA foursome of Abbie Altman, Kelsey Zimcosky, Kendall Duley and Haley Dascenzo.

"Our girls swam against them in an individual meet during the year and knew how good they were," Schmeider said. "They knew what type of challenge they would have at the state meet.

"No matter how young or old you are in athletics, once you taste success, you want to keep it there. Those girls experienced success and were motivated at states because they didn't want it taken away from them," she added.

Keelan, McElhaney, Krause and Morrison also produced the second-fastest time for their age group nationally in the 200-yard medley relay with a 2:11.27.

Only a team from Massachusetts - Teresa Faller, Erica Belcher, Whitney Adrian and Rachel Moore - was faster with a 2:10.01.

"It takes dedication and motivation to do what these girls did," Schmeider said. "They definitely had both.

"This just reinforces how the YMCA swim team serves as a feeder program for our varsity. We have an outstanding freshman class coming in now, and these (10-year-old) girls will be freshmen when they're seniors. There won't be any lull and I'm excited about that."