Published: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Kamiak’s Moores in position to claim her first state medal
By Mark Nelson Herald Writer
FEDERAL WAY — The 50-yard freestyle happened in a flash and one swimmer stayed in the pool after the race was finished, wading out 15 yards until the final rankings flashed on the scoreboard and a cheerful smile illuminated her face.
Kamiak senior Louise Moores completed the 50 freestyle in 24.54 seconds in the preliminary round of the class 4A girls state swimming and diving championships at the King County Aquatic Center and has a strong chance of reaching the medal stand at today’s finals, an accomplishment that has eluded the 17-year-old during her two previous state finals appearances.
Moores’ time in the 50 freestyle ranked her third for the finals behind Kentlake junior Chelsea Bailey and Thomas Jefferson sophomore Amber Cratsenberg.
“I saw the board, but I didn’t comprehend what was going on,” said Moores, a native of England. “I really didn’t think I pulled through.”
Bailey’s top time of 23.95 seconds is well within Moores’ range.
“I don’t think it’s going to be too hard (to shave time off),” Moores said, modestly adding that she thinks it will be very difficult to win the title. “There are a lot of things in that single 50 freestyle that I can fix.”
Along with a strong swim in the 50 freestyle, Moores earned the sixth-best time in the 100 freestyle, an accomplishment that pleased the senior.
“I was really proud of that (100 freestyle swim), too,” Moores said. “I really wanted to get top eight (in placement).”
Today is Moores’ last chance to make a splash at the state championships and she knows it.
“Badly, really badly,” Moores said when asked how much she wanted to ascend the medal stand today. “It’s my last year and I really want to make my mark.”
Another swimmer who has already made her mark in freestyle races is looking to make some noise in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.
Jackson senior Alana Pazevic swam well enough to earn the second-best time (56.57) in the 100 butterfly and third (56.29) in the 100 backstroke. Both swims were in automatic All-American times.
“I’m right where I want to be,” said Pazevic, who also admitted to holding back a little bit in the first 50 yards of both races. “I feel confident about my swims.”
The University of Florida-bound swimmer also helped Jackson to fourth-best in the 400 freestyle relay and fifth in the 200 medley relay.
“It’s going to be fun,” Pazevic said of today’s finals. “I’m just trying to enjoy it.”
While the Western Conference doesn’t have a dominant team at the state finals this season, the conference does boast plenty of individuals with big opportunities for top-3 finishes.
Along with Moores and Pazevic, the 200 and 500 freestyle races have a distinct Wesco flair.
Shorewood junior Dana Michaels earned the second-best time in the 200 freestyle (1:53.05) and third in the 500 freestyle (5:03.14). The Thunderbirds’ Laurin Williams also earned the fifth-best slot in the 500 freestyle (5:05.64).
Jackson’s Courtney McDermott (5:06.18) and Ashley Jay of Edmonds-Woodway (5:05.04) also placed in the top eight in the 500 freestyle.
Jay also ranked third in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:53.95.
Marysville-Pilchuck freshman sensation Hannah Taylor captured the fifth-best time in the 200 individual medley (2:07.84) and seventh in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.22).
Shorewood, the 4A District 1 champions, struggled in the meet-opening 200 medley relay, placing 20th in 1:59.02, but the Thunderbirds finished the day with a fifth-best time in the 400 freestyle relay (3:42.01).
“Shorewood was our strongest (Wesco team),” Moores said. “But their depth is lost at state.”
At King County Aquatics Center
Wesco finalists
200 medley relay—5. Jackson (Alana Pazevic, Courtney McDermott, Karla Bensen, Kaitlin Taylor) 1:54.06. Consolation—Marysville-Pilchuck, Lake Stevens. Eliminated—Stanwood, Shorewood, Oak Harbor.
200 freestyle—2. Dana Michaels (Shorewood) 1:53.05, 3. Ashley Jay (Edmonds-Woodway) 1:53.95. Consolation—Lindsey LeValley (Marysville-Pilchuck), Courtney McDermott (Jackson), Danielle Holstein (Edmonds-Woodway). Eliminated—Anni Hecker (Shorewood).
200 individual medley—5. Hannah Taylor (Marysville-Pilchuck) 2:07.84. Consolation—Laurin Williams (Shorewood). Eliminated—Ciara Hu (Oak Harbor), Laura Rosen (Oak Harbor).
50 freestyle—3. Louise Moores (Kamiak) 24.54. Consolation—Lindsay Vanderhoff (Lake Stevens). Eliminated—Hannah Kohagen (Kamiak).
Diving—Late
100 butterfly—2. Alana Pazevic (Jackson) 56.57, 7. Kalena Laurent (Cascade) 58.55. Consolation—Kaitlin Taylor (Jackson), Alisa Stang (Stanwood). Eliminated—Jede Tanggol (Mariner), Ciara Hu (Oak Harbor).
100 freestyle—6. Louise Moores (Kamiak) 54.00. Consolation—Anni Hecker (Shorewood). Eliminated—Lindsay Vanderhoff (Lake Stevens), Annika Stenfjord (Shorewood), Kendall Vincelette (Marysville-Pilchuck).
500 freestyle—Not reported.
200 freestyle relay—Consolation—Shorewood, Kamiak. Eliminated—Oak Harbor, Marysville-Pilchuck.
100 backstroke—3. Alana Pazevic (Jackson) 56.29. Eliminated—Madeline Summers (Lake Stevens), Akasha Trisler (Oak Harbor), Whitney Weinert (Stanwood).
100 breaststroke—7. Hannah Taylor (Marysville-Pilchuck) 1:07.22. Consolation—Alexa Weyer (Snohomish), Kelsey Fallstrom (Lake Stevens).
400 freestyle relay—4. Jackson (Kaitlin Taylor), Courtney McDermott, Ellen Dean, Alana Pazevic) 3:40.25, Shorewood (Annika Stenfjord, Anni Hecker, Laurin Williams, Dana Michaels) 3:42.01, 7. Marysville-Pilchuck (Hannah Taylor, Megan Shoemaker, Lindsey LeValley, Kendall Vincelette) 3:42.42. Consolation—Lake Stevens, Kamiak.
3A prelims: At Federal Way, Glacier Peak’s Melissa Randolf qualified for the final in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. She was fifth fastest in both events.
Wesco finalists
200 medley relay—Consolation—Shorecrest.
200 freestyle—Consolation—Allyson Kim (Shorecrest), Angie Bonato (Shorecrest).
200 individual medley—Consolation—Kina Ackerman (Meadowdale), Katlyn Christenson (Glacier Peak).
50 freestyle—5. Melissa Randolf (Glacier Peak) 24.79. Eliminated—Jasmine Douglas (Everett).
Diving—5. Maria Hawkins (Glacier Peak) 167.15, 7. Jacqueline Blackmore (Shorecrest) 157.10, 14. Samantha Limesand (Glacier Peak) 136.00, 17. Domonique Griffen (Shorecrest) 131.20, 22. Neva Mahler (Shorecrest) 96.45.
100 butterfly—5. Melissa Randolf (Glacier Peak) 59.29, 6. Laura Millet (Shorecrest) 59.42. Eliminated—Sarah Semon (Shorecrest).
100 freestyle—Eliminated—Cara Prange (Glacier Peak).
500 freestyle—8. Allyson Kim (Shorecrest) 5:17.23. Consolation—Kina Ackerman (Meadowdale). Eliminated—Angie Bonato (Shorecrest)
200 freestyle relay—Consolation—Glacier Peak. Eliminated—Shorecrest
100 backstroke—Consolation—Laura Millet (Shorecrest). Eliminated—Autumn Wunderlich (Glacier Peak), Alexa Peters (Shorecrest).
100 breaststroke—Consolation—Katlyn Christenson (Glacier Peak). Elimnated—Claire Wickstrom (Shorecrest).
400 freestyle relay—Consolation—Shorecrest, Glacier Peakl.
2A prelims: At Federal Way, Archbishop Murphy qualified swimmers in all but three events. Amy Renslo led the Wildcats. She had the third-best time in the 200 individual medley and the fourth-best in the 100 butterfly. She also helped Murphy qualify for today’s final in the 200 and 400 freestyle relay races. Sarah Bettag (50 and 100 free) and Claire McCloskey (100 butterfly, 500 free) also qualified in two events.
Archbishop Murphy finalists
200 individual medley—3. Amy Renslo 2:18.06.
50 freestyle—5. Sarah Bettag 25.85.
Diving—3. Rosalie Corrigan 196.55.
100 butterfly—3. Amy Renslo 1:01.89, 5. Claire McCloskey 1:04.02.
100 freestyle—8. Sarah Bettag 57.27.
500 freestyle—7. Claire McCloskey 5:52.84.
200 freestyle relay—4. Amy Renslo, Anna Maher, Bryn Michael, Sarah Bettag 1:47.54.
100 backstroke—8. Anna Maher 1:09.07.
400 freestyle relay—4. Amy Renslo, Claire McCloskey, Anna Maher, Sarah Bettag 3:55.19.
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