PITTSBURGH — Kevin Donaldson and Haihan Xu had previously earned medals in individual events at the WPIAL Class 3A Swimming Championships.

Their trip to the podium Thursday held a lot more weight for the pair from Seneca Valley.

Donaldson, a senior, captured his first individual district crown in the 200-yard freestyle while Xu, a junior, did likewise in the 200 IM.

In the final event of the day, Xu anchored the Raiders’ 200 freestyle relay, which earned first place with a school-record time of one minute, 24.35 seconds. That effort earns for SV’s quartet, which also included Daniel Simoes, Gavin Blazer and Zach Lozowski, All-America recognition.

Donaldson’s effort in the 200 free was SV’s first gold performance of the day. He maintained a slight edge on Kiski Area’s Levi Hansen, the top-seed, for the entire race. The former won by .74 seconds.

“Kevin had a quick turnaround, swam in the 200 medley relay and had about 15 minutes before he had to get ready for the 200 free,” said SV coach Brian Blackwell. “But we prepared for it and he was conditioned for it.”

Placing third in the event as a sophomore and second last year made Thursday’s victory especially sweet for Donaldson.

“Being able to win today, after all the hard work I put in, it feels really good,” he said. “I was confident it would come down to me and Levi. I knew he’s a really fast swimmer and was the top seed. You can’t take that for granted, but I was able to hold on.”

Aside from becoming physically stronger and working on his technique, Donaldson also gained the mind-set it takes to be a champion.

“I taught myself that I could do it,” he said. “I had trouble believing that when I was younger.”

Xu was in fifth place after the first leg (butterfly) of the 200 IM.

“I really didn’t know where I was at that point,” he said. “I was focused on how the strokes felt and making sure everything felt right.”

What Xu was confident about was his ability in the breaststroke, the third leg of the race.

“That’s my best stroke and I was counting on making up time with that,” he said.

Xu won the event with a time of 1:50.96, just .13 seconds ahead of his teammate, Simoes, the defending champion who led for much of the race.

“It’s exciting that we finished 1-2, but I wanted first place,” said Simoes. “I’m hoping to get it at states.”

Xu was quick to credit Simoes for the role he has played in his success.

“I’m just glad that we’re right there next to each other in practice every day, pushing each other,” he said.

SV’s win in the 200 freestyle relay came by .23 seconds over defending champion Upper St. Clair.

“We were close to it last year, finished third,” said Lozowski. “It’s very exciting to get it done.”

SV also had a strong effort in the 200 medley relay. Donaldson, Xu, Blazer and Lozowski finished with a time of 1:34.03. Only a school-record time from Franklin Regional (1:33.50) kept the Raiders from winning the event.

SV’s boys enter Friday’s action with a 65½-point lead over North Allegheny for first place in the team standings.

The Raider girls were paced by Ria Dietz’s second-place effort in the butterfly. She swam the event in 56.68 seconds.

Following are Butler County swimmers who earned a medal by placing in the top eight at the WPIAL Swimming Championships, which began Thursday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.

Class 3A

Girls

200 medley relay: 5-Seneca Valley (Ria Dietz, Alissa Wilson, Abby Perry, Lena Rothrock) 1:48.18

100 butterfly: 2-Ria Dietz (SV) 56.68; 5-Abby Perry (SV) 57.83

Boys

200 medley relay: 2-Seneca Valley (Kevin Donaldson, Haihan Xu, Gavin Blazer, Zach Lozowski) 1:34.03

200 freestyle: 1-Kevin Donaldson (SV) 1:40.22

200 individual medley: 1-Haihan Xu (SV) 1:50.96; 2-Daniel Simoes (SV) 1:51.09

50 freestyle: 1-Ben Borvendeg (B) 20.83

100 butterfly: 5-Gavin Blazer (SV) 51.49

200 freestyle relay: 1-Seneca Valley (Daniel Simoes, Gavin Blazer, Zach Lozowski, Haihan Xu) 1:24.35

Class 2A

Girls

200 medley relay: 2-Freeport (Caitlyn Brennan, Alexis Schrecongost, Kira Schrecongost, Isabelle Barton) 1:49.71

200 individual medley: 2-Kira Schrecongost (F) 2:08.86; 4-Giona Lavorini (K) 2:10.64

100 butterfly: 1-Kira Schrecongost (F) 56.09; 8-Caitlyn Brennan (F) 1:00.49

200 freestyle relay: 3-Freeport (Alexis Schrecongost, Danielle Parke, Kira Schrecongost, Isabelle Barton) 1:41.80

Boys

200 medley relay: 3-North Catholic (Luke Lamb, John Lamb, Matthew Littleton, Julian LaPietra) 1:38.64

200 freestyle: 7-Caden Traggiai (K) 1:47.24

200 individual medley: 5-Jackson Kress (NC) 1:56.17

50 freestyle: 5-Nathan Silsby (M) 22.65

100 butterfly: 5-Matthew Littleton (NC) 53.05

200 freestyle relay: 2-North Catholic (Matthew Littleton, Jackson Kress, John Lamb, Julian LaPietra) 1:27.98; 5-Mars (Leo Saver, Kevin Butler, Jacob Harsch, Nathan Silsby) 1:32.10