Shorecrest junior Tyler Hayden’s record-setting performance at the Class 3A/2A District 1 meet in Anacortes Feb. 10 proved he has what it takes to challenge for a state title.
Hayden, a junior, won the 200 freestyle with a personal best time of 1 minute, 44.05 seconds that broke the district meet record of 1:45.62 as well as the Fidalgo Pool record. His goal was to break 1:45.
He also took first in the 100 butterfly in 52.77 seconds, narrowly missing the meet record, Shorecrest coach Bill Murray said.
Hayden is tapering his training to peak at state Feb. 16-17 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. Action gets under way at 5:30 p.m. this evening, Friday, Feb. 16 and continues at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 17.
“Hopefully he’ll continue to drop time for that meet,” Murray said.
Hayden, seeded second in both events, will face some tough competition from Camas senior Keenan Natyzak. Natyzak is seeded first in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, and swam All-American consideration times in both this season.
“(Hayden’s) got his work cut out for him but Tyler, I like his attitude toward racing,” Murray said. “I think he’s going to have the right mental mindset to give it a good shot.”
Hayden placed third in the butterfly and sixth in the 200 freestyle at state last year.
Hayden’s big day contrasted with what Murray called an “unfortunate set of circumstances,” that resulted in Hayden being the only Scot to qualify for state.
Sophomore Michael Zylstra, a key member of two of the Scots’ relay teams, came down with the serious flu bug and checked into a hospital on Saturday. Without him the Scots finished fourth in all three relays, one place out of a state slot.
Zylstra also came into the meet seeded second in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 freestyle.
Shorecrest finished second as a team with 212 points behind first-place Sehome, which scored 340 points.
Despite the loss of Zylstra and some performances that came up short of what the Scots had hoped for on Friday, Murray was pleased with his team’s showing.
“They did what they needed to do to hold that second place so I was proud of them for that,” Murray said.
Shorecrest shared the Western Conference South Division title with perennial powerhouse Shorewood this year and is still a young team.
“We have a little bit of everything,” Murray said. “We have a lot of positives to carry us through next year. Can’t complain about a Wesco title and second at districts.”
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