LYNNWOOD — The Edmonds-Woodway boys swim team successfully defended its Edmonds District Invitational title, but Meadowdale’s David Clobes stole the show with a record-breaking performance in the 100-yard butterfly.
The Meadowdale senior captain clocked in at 55-flat, besting the 18-year-old meet record of 55.28 by Edmonds High School’s Blake Miller.
It was the fourth straight meet in which Clobes has clocked in with a state qualifying time in the 100 butterfly.
“I feel really good about that,” Clobes said. “That was a personal best by about .2 (seconds). I’m close to the school record by about .1, so hopefully, I can get it by districts.”
Clobes also finished second in the 200 freestyle (1:50.98) behind Burlington-Edison’s Kris Hunter (1:50.76). Clobes is hoping to go faster in 100 butterfly.
“If I can get that second 50 to be a little faster, I could drop a lot of time actually,” he said. “It’s going to come with some hard workouts. Pretty much every meet has been a personal best for me, so I feel pretty good.”
Clobes also swam on Meadowdale’s winning 200 medley relay team (1:49.43) with Sam Atkinson, Michael Keane and Neil Fenning and on the 400 freestyle relay team (3:38.28) with Allen Wong, Atkinson and Keane.
“He (Clobes) has got a real good focus,” Meadowdale coach Kati Girard said. “We anticipate he’s going to do well and have a good state finals.”
The Warriors were led by Bryant Shiu, who won 50 freestyle (24.65) and the 100 breaststroke (1:06.78).
“My times were pretty good,” said Shiu, who was the only Edmonds District swimmer to win two individual events. “I haven’t been swimming my best for most of the season, so today was a couple of PRs (personal records).”
Shiu also swam on Edmonds-Woodway’s winning 200 freestyle relay team (1:42.34) with Owen Jones, Justin Jerome and Arad Abadi.
Edmonds-Woodway took home the title championship, scoring 343.5 points to Meadowdale, which finished with 281. Burlington-Edison was third (143) and was followed by Mountlake Terrace (131.5), Sedro-Woolley (129), Mount Vernon (68) and Lynnwood (55).
“My kids swam tremendously. It was a great meet,” Warriors coach Matt Delaney said. “(Shiu had) a real convincing win in the 100 breaststroke. It’s just obviously how good his form is in the water right now.”
Edmonds-Woodway’s Nate Stoll won the 100 freestyle (53.25) and placed second in the 100 backstroke (58.25) behind Hunter (56.75). Stoll already has a state cut in the 100 backstroke. Teammate Sean Maden was second in the 50 freestyle (24.86) and second in the 100 butterfly (57.02).
The Warriors’ 200 medley relay team of Stoll, Shiu, Maden and Jones also took second (1:51.09). Jones filled in for usual anchor Rick Aaroe, who missed Saturday’s competition.
Edmonds-Woodway is half a second off the state time standard in the 200 medley relay.
“Our IM relay has been pretty good,” Shiu said. “We’re almost at the state cut. Hopefully, we can get that at the state qualifying meet.”
Meadowdale freshman Atkinson and Keane also had strong individual performances.
Keane won the 200 individual medley (2:14.28) and finished second in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.87). Atkinson took first in the 500 freestyle (5:16.14).
The two have given the entire Meadowdale squad a boost this season.
“They’re year round swimmers,” Girard said. “They have a lot of experience. They’re coming in there and really stepping up and helping the team. I think they’re helping some of the other kids see their potential.”
Meadowdale’s 200 medley team is its top postseason prospect, though the 400 freestyle squad also is coming on strong.
“We’re got to bump it up a little more,” Girard said. “The medley has a good shot at state. The 400 we’re going to have to pick it up a little bit.”
Mountlake Terrace’s Justin Lee finished second in the 200 individual medley (2:30.11) and teammate Jared Cooke placed third in the 100 freestyle (56.24).
The Western Conference 4A South Division Sectional preliminaries are scheduled for Feb. 9 at Kamiak High School with the finals with the Wesco North Division set for Feb. 11 at Marysville-Pilchuck. The Northwest District 3A championships are Feb. 10-11 at Fidalgo Pool in Anacortes.
The state swimming championships are Feb. 17-18 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
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