Hannah Havemeier set her second school record in the span of a week, continuing a standout season Tuesday, Jan. 24 at Platte County Community Center North.
In a tight dual with St. Joseph Central, Havemeier won the 200-yard freestyle in 2 minutes, 7.61 seconds to top the mark teammate Hailee Baer set in 2015 by almost 2 full seconds (2:09.50). Platte County won the first three events overall but ended up losing the dual 155-143 to Central.
The 200 medley team of Bailey Newell, Rachel Valentine, Olivia Forrester and Baer opened the meet with a win for the Pirates. Havemeier followed in the 200 freestyle before Baer topped the 200 IM field in 2:31.99.
Platte County’s other two wins came in the 500 freestyle (Lindsey Swindler, 6:37.98) and 100 backstroke Newell, (1:11.35).
Five on Platte County’s roster boast previous Missouri State Swimming and Diving Championships experience, and two individuals and one relay have made cuts this year. Havemeier qualified in the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke, while Valentine was the first qualifier this year, also in the 100 breaststroke.
The 200 medley relay has also qualified.
Last season, Havemeier, Valentine and Forrester all competed at state in the 100 breaststroke. Valentine posted the 14th best preliminary time in the event with a school record time to become the first Platte County swimmer to reach the consolation final of an event since Stephanie Jacobsen in 2002.
The medley relay team of Havemeier, Valentine, Baer and Newell also went to state last year. Platte County has now qualified that event in three consecutive seasons.
Blue Springs South triangular
Park Hill South won six total events — five of them individual — to beat Blue Springs South and Marshall in a meet Tuesday, Jan. 24 in Blue Springs, Mo.
Georgia Clark, a sophomore for the Panthers, accounted for two with victories in the 500 freestyle (1:13.85) and 100 breaststroke (1:13.85) as did junior Paige Riekhof (50 freestyle, 25.95; 100 backstroke, 1:05.25). Allison Garret won the 100 butterfly.
Riekhof, Peyton Wiewel, Kirsten Aken and Emilee Abbott were on the 200 medley relay for Park Hill South, which opened the meet with a tight victory over teammates Clark, Garrett, Tatum Oliphant and Terah Stoker.
Park Hill South has 26 total events qualified for state but only Clark has posted a season-best time in recent weeks, swimming 1:00.08 in the 100 butterfly during a dual with Park Hill.