Cheney swimmers split in successive meets with Lindbergh, Ellensburg

Cheney High’s girls swimming team took on a monumental task last weekend – competing in back to back meets against some tough opponents.

The Blackhawks hosted 2A Lindbergh High from Renton at the Eastern Washington University pool on Friday, Sept. 20, falling 89-81 in close competition with the South Puget Sound League Eagles.

Jade Gere led Cheney with a pair of state-qualifying times. Gere won the 200-yard freestyle and the 500 freestyle with times of 2 minutes, 6 seconds and 5:44.21.

Janie Richards got a pair of wins in the 200 individual medley (IM) and the 100 butterfly, touching the wall first with times of 2:28.83 and 1:07.27 respectively. Asia Gere was first in the 50 freestyle in 26.41 and the 100 freestyle in 58.32 while Izzy Williams won the 100 backstroke in 1:09.03. Williams was second in the 200 IM in 2:29.38.

Two of Cheney’s three relay teams also posted state-qualifying times in winning their events. The 200 medley team of Richards, Jade Gere, Echo Mecklenberg and Asia Gere was first in 2:01.20 while the 400-freestyle team of Richards, Asia Gere, Williams and Jade Gere was first in 3:38.64.

The 200-freestyle team of Williams, Mecklenberg, Hope Zaragoza and Adelyn O’Dell was second in 1:53.36.

The Blackhawks didn’t have much time to rest as they turned around less than 24 hours later to travel to Central Washington University in Ellensburg to face Ellensburg High School, throttling the Bulldogs 116-54.

Richards posted the only state time on Saturday, winning the 100 backstroke in 1:03.55. She was also first in the 50 freestyle in 26.41.

Asia Gere posted wins in the 200 and 500 freestyle events with times of 2:06 and 5:45.53 while Jade Gere was first in the 100 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke in 57.92 and 1:14.80. Williams won the 200 IM in 2:28.93 and was second in the 100 butterfly in 1:11.93. All three relay teams won their races, with Williams, Adelyn O’Dell, Mecklenburg and Lauren O’Callaghan swimming the 400 freestyle.

“(We) swam well on the second day despite being worn out from racing the previous day,” Cheney head coach Jennifer Hochwalt said in an email. “Missed several state cuts by less than a second including the 200 free, 50 free, 500 free, 200 free relay and 100 breaststroke.”

Cheney’s next meet is today (Sept. 26), hosting Clarkston at the EWU pool.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].