Cheney swimmers are headed to state championships

The Cheney swim team will be sending three relay teams and four individuals to state following a strong showing at their district meet Oct. 27.

At the district meet, Cheney dominated the relays, netting first place in the 200-yard relay in 1:58:91 thanks to freshman Janie Richards, junior Echo Mecklenburg, freshman Jade Gere and senior Courtney Hansen. Richards, Hansen and junior Izzy Williams also took second in the 200-freestyle relay in 1:58:86 and Williams, Mecklenburg, Gere and senior Juliette Richards swept first in the 400-freestyle relay in 4:01:01.

Richards and Gere will both be going to state as individuals with two events apiece. Richards will compete in the 100-butterfly and 100-backstroke, while Gere will enter the 100-breaststroke and 100-freestyle races.

Williams and Hansen will also be at the state meet competing in the 200-individual medley and the 50-freestyle, respectively.

“There’s the possibility of a wildcard but we won’t know till the other teams have district meets next week,” head coach Jennifer Hochwalt said.

In the 200-freestyle at the district meet, Juliette Richards snagged fifth in 2:14:02, and fourth place in the 400-freestyle in 5:57:83.

Williams took second in the 200-individual medley in 2:24:93, followed by Mecklenburg in fifth place in 2:37 flat. Courtney Hansen earned her state spot in the 50-freestyle in 26:12, with senior Abby Wood coming in sixth place in 28:42 and freshman Tilly Baldwin making 10th in 28:92.

In the 100-backstroke, Richards took the top spot, earning her a place a state and a new school record in 1:01:91. Williams notched fourth in 1:08:21.

Richards also wrangled third place in the 100-butterfly in 1:05:39, with Mecklenburg taking sixth in 1:09:98. Gere took first in the 100-breaststroke in 1:11:39 and second in the 100-freestyle in 55:41. Hansen followed Gere in the latter race, coming in fourth in 58:85 with Wood delivering an eighth place finish in 1:03:57 and sophomore Adelyn O’Dell in 14th in 1:06:22.

“This and one other year is probably the most individual qualifiers we’ve ever had,” Hochwalt said.

Shannen Talbot can be reached at [email protected].