Personal bests put Mars girl in states
PITTSBURGH — Some sophomores are happy just getting to the WPIAL Swimming Championships.
If that's the case with Rachel Szymkowiak, she has a funny way of showing it.
The Mars swimmer left no doubt as to whether she would be swimming in the state meet later this month by finishing fourth Thursday in the 200 individual medley with a personal-record time of 2 minutes, 14.81 seconds. That is more than four seconds faster than her previous best.
In Class AA competition, the top four spots are assured of making the PIAA meet.
"I'm really excited about making the state meet," Szymkowiak said. "I felt really good in the water today."
The underclassman also set a personal-record time of 1:00.60 in the 100 butterfly, in which she placed sixth.
"I knew she would drop some time in the IM," said Mars coach Gail Quigley. "But I didn't think she'd drop as much as she did. That surprised me a bit, but I'm excited for her."
Quigley saw the girls 200 medley relay team place fifth with a finish of 1:54.36.
The quartet included Szymkowiak, Chloe Pierre, Courtney Shields and Gabri Pierre.
Rachel Tano provided Knoch with its best finish of the day by placing 10th in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:00.20.
Freeport's 200 medley relay team of Gail Erickson, Andrea McQueen, Keil Erickson and Katy Screen placed 10th after managing a time of 1:58.38.
In the boys competition, Mars senior Jeff Gavin finished third in the 200 freestyle at 1:46.00.
It was Gavin's best finish in the event at the WPIAL meet — he placed fourth in 2006 — and the time was just one-tenth of a second from setting a new personal record. But the performance will send Gavin to the state championships.
The WPIAL Class AA Swimming Championships continue from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today. Events include the 100 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and 400 freestyle relay.
