Some close calls and exceptionally fast times at last week’s Northwest District 3A girls swimming and diving championships left Shorecrest feeling a bit snubbed.
But not Liz Shdo.
The senior earned her first state berth by placing third in the 500-yard freestyle at the Nov. 8 finals at Fidalgo Pool in Anacortes. Only the top three finishers in each event at districts qualified for state.
“We had a few fourth places and some near misses, especially in the relays,” Shorecrest coach Bill Murray said. “They (swam) the times I thought it would take to get in the top three, but it didn’t pan out.”
Shdo and divers Samantha Young and Kristina Bendikson will represent the Scots at this week’s Class 3A state meet at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. Preliminary heats begin at noon today and finals are set for an 11:30 a.m. start tomorrow.
As a junior Shdo nearly qualified in the 200 individual medley, her other strong event.
“Going to state is something that’s always been a goal for her,” Murray said. “She’s certainly put the work in.”
“I’m not going to be seeded real high, but I want to drop some more time,” added Shdo, who hopes to swim in college, possibly at Loyola Marymount or Seattle University.
Young took third in diving in 2002 as a freshman and is among the favorites this year. Her main competition should come from Kennedy’s Jill Farley, who topped 400 points to win the West Central 3A District title.
To keep pace with the leaders, Shoreline District dive coach Keela Carter said Young will need to “keep her head clear and stay focused on each dive, instead of thinking about what’s coming up and what Jill and the other divers are doing.”
Bendikson’s performance is even more commendable, considering her diving experience was non-existent before this season. Her 11-dive score jumped from 224 at the start of the season to 282 at districts.
“I keep hearing that she’s not very competitive, but I’ve seen her pull it together at every big meet we’ve had,” Carter said.
Gymnastics is Bendikson’s forte. And while some of her tumbling skills transfer well to the pool, others don’t.
“She’s had to make a lot of adjustments from what diving coaches call ‘bad habits’ and gymnastics coaches call ‘good habits,’” Carter said. “She’s had to make a lot of changes in her form and technique. But she’s making vast improvements every meet.”
Squalicum captured the Northwest District title with 264 points, followed by Anacortes (195), Sehome (190), Meadowdale (153.5) and Shorecrest (144).
Murray noted that several of the fourth-place times would have been good enough for second place last year. Young blood is partially to blame.
“There’s some new freshmen in the 3A district and they’re fast,” Murray said. “That kind of changed the whole context of the meet. All of our swimmers dropped time and that was what we were trying to do.”
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