The women from Carmel Highschool have won every Indiana State Highschool Championships state final since the 1986-1987 season. After watching the prelims of the 2013 Indiana State Championships it appears that Carmel has the opportunity to add another win to their already impressive resume.
Carmel’s relay squads are as impressive as ever, heading into tomorrows finals with the top spot in the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, and 400 freestyle relay (in other words, all relays). The Carmel girls’ freestyle sprinters are looking incredible, led by the likes of Claire Adams who also took the top spot in the 200 free and 100 back during tonight’s prelims. Adams’ amazing leadoff of 50.40 in the 400 freestyle relay would have gotten her the top spot in the individual 100 freestyle if she had chosen to swim it. Her time of 50.40 is extremely close to the Indiana State record of 49.77.
Adams time in the 200 free also showed that she might be on her way to breaking an Indiana State record or two in tomorrow’s finals. Her time of 1:48.19 was just over a second off of the 1:47.09 record set by Carmel Senior Rhiannon Sheets two years ago.
Addisynn Bursch swimming out of Penn Highschool took the top spot in the 200 IM over teammate Bethany Galat 2:00.08 to 2:00.33. Bursch will also head into the 100 freestyle finals in the top spot after swimming a 50.71 over Clara Bagett’s 50.77.
Alex Cleveland swimming out of Zionsville highschool had the fastest splash-and-dash of the night touching in at 22.95. Clevland’s time was just 0.05 seconds off of the state record set by Lacey Boutwell in 1998. Cleveland gets another shot tomorrow night at the record in the finals.
In the 100 fly another outstanding Carmel swimmer Ariana Bullard had the fastest time of 54.18. Hanna house also swimming out of Carmel had the second fastest time of 54.61.
Fishers High School Swimmer Emily Moser took the top spot in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:55.49. Julia Campbell of Chesterton High School and Erin Moe of Westfield High School followed closely behind her in 4:55.51 and 4:55.79. The top eight swimmers heading into tomorrow’s final are all within four seconds of each other so it should be a tight race.
After qualifying second for tomorrows finals in the 200 freestyle, Galat qualified to compete in another final by swimming the fastest 100-breaststroke time tonight in 1:01.09. Galat’s time was 0.97 off of the state record of 1:00.12 set in 2008. If she can save enough energy during her 200 freestyle final tomorrow she might have a shot at the record.
Tomorrow’s finals should be jam-packed with excitement and a couple possible records to boot. Carmel Highschool looks to take another victory, keeping their 26-year streak alive.
Full live meet results available here.
Bethany Galat’s (Penn) leadoff in the 200 Free Relay was a 22.93, which would’ve also been seeded first in the 50 Free and only .03 off the State record.
Just a side note. The picture above is not of the IUPUI Natatorium. That is from Federal Way in Seattle.