Kentucky High School Champs: St. Xavier Takes Boys’ Title, Paul Dunbar Takes Girls’

March 23. THE KENTUCKY State High School Swimming Championships, held Feb. 23-24 at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, offered up two very close races for the team titles, and contrasting patterns in the boys and girls competition.

St. Xavier beat out Covington Catholic for the boys' crown, 348 – 312.5. The girls' battle was even closer with Paul L. Dunbar edging Sacred Heart 332 – 322.

In the boys' competition, every individual winner–except in diving–was a senior. In the girls' competition, none of the individual were seniors–except in diving.

Despite some outstanding performances, no boys' state marks were set; Nate Dusing established state standards that will be hard to break. Three state marks were set in the girls' events, all of them in relays.

Here are the highlights:

BOYS' EVENTS
Two swimmers turned in twin winning performances. Michael Day, Dixie Heights, took the 100 yard fly in 50.53 and the 100 back in 51.89. Russ MacDonald, Bullitt East, won the 100 breast in a blistering 56.50, justed ahead of Will Ratliff (56.67) and tied for the title in the 100 free. Both MacDonald and Covington Catholic's Brett Hoerstring clocked 46.61.

Nathan Knopf, Shelby High, swam 4:30.91 to win the 500 free, missing the state mark by just over a second.

Kevin Teague, a sophomore at Paul L. Dunbar, took the one meter diving with 512.50 points.

Other winners:
200 medley relay, St. Xavier 1:36.69
200 free, Matt Bertke, Covington Catholic, 1:41.28
200 IM, David Moisan, Male, 1:53.71
50 free, Will Ratliff, Montgomery County, 21.21
200 free relay, Covington Catholic, 1:27.08
400 free relay, Covington Catholic, 3:12.15

GIRLS' EVENTS
Two underclasswomen stole the show in the girls' competition: freshman Carolyn Burckle of Sacred Heart and eighth-grader Emily Ewing.

Burckle, of Sacred Heart, took the 200 free in 1:52.48, coming from behind on the final 50, and the 500 in 5:01.22.

Ewing, swimming for Madisonville North Hopkins, won the 50 free in a blistering 23.77 and the 100 back in a fine 56.84. Both times just missed breaking the state records, but Ewing has four more shots.

Elizabeth Foster, a junior and the only upperclass-woman to win a swimming event, was also a double winner. The Franklin County standout took the 200 IM in 2:05.70 and the 100 fly in 56.44 (56.08p).

Sacred Heart Academy broke both state freestyle relay records, clocking 1:38.26 in the 200 and 3:32.95 in the 400. In the longer race, the old record of 3:34.23–also held by Sacred Heart–had lasted 14 years.

Paul L. Dunbar set a state mark in the meet's first event, the 200 medley relay, clocking 1:49.05.

Other winners:
100 free, Barb Viney, Scott County, 52.45
100 breast, Elizabeth Tinnon, 1:06.17
diving, Ashley Carter, Sacred Heart, 433.60 points

See "RESULTS" for complete results of the meet.

Check out our feature Product !!

Check out our feature Product !!

Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x