Linn-Mar's Kelsey Drake lowers her state record in 100 fly

MARION — Kelsey Drake never wavered.

After missing her junior swimming season to train for the Olympic Trials, she fully intended to return to high-school competition for her final year.

'I knew all along that I would be back,' she said. 'High-school swimming is a special experience. The girls, the environment ... it's amazing.'

Drake was a little on the amazing side herself at Saturday's regional meet at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center. The Linn-Mar ace eclipsed her own all-time Iowa best in the 100-yard butterfly, in 54.48 seconds.

A University of Iowa recruit, Drake also captured the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.69 — an effort that ranks No. 8 in state history — and was named the meet's most outstanding swimmer.

'I felt pretty good today,' she said. 'It's always nice to have a PR. It's encouraging for good things next week.'

The top 24 individuals and relays from each event advance to the state championships next Friday (diving) and Saturday (swimming) at the Marshalltown YMCA.

Second-ranked Bettendorf was the best of the 10-team field, accumulating 430 points. Cedar Rapids Kennedy was second with 326 points behind 100-yard backstroke champion Jessica Williams, followed by Dubuque Wahlert (281), Cedar Rapids Washington (278) and Linn-Mar (237).

Drake starred at Cedar Rapids Jefferson as a freshman, then at Linn-Mar as a sophomore. She set the butterfly state record that year in 54.51 seconds, then came back and topped that Saturday.

'I'm not completely tapered yet,' she said. 'I'll throw on a new tech suit next week, and hopefully I'll go faster. I think I can go 53. We'll see what happens.'

Also an individual medley standout, Drake shifted to the breaststroke this year.

'That's not my specialty. It's kind of a wild card,' she said. 'I've always done the IM, but it's really painful for me, so I wanted to try something different.'

Kennedy's Jayden Lovell won the diving title Thursday, then Williams added the backstroke crown in 57.90 Saturday. The Cougars added six runner-up finishes, finishing second behind Bettendorf in all three relays.

'We got a lot of PRs; that's all you can ask for,' said Maddie Bagby, who lowered her school record in the 100 free with a second-place effort of 52.90. 'We showed a lot of determination.'

Williams doesn't intend to swim beyond high school — 'Next week will probably be it for me,' she said — but the beginning of the stretch run of her final season was memorable. She walked away Saturday with three school records, including the winning backstroke effort of 57.90.

'It feels really good with the way it's ending,' Williams said. 'To be able to experience this with this group of girls, it's just great. I've had a lot of focus in practice and have found ways to improve.'

Kassidy Lovig was the 500 runner-up (5:09.69), and the Cougars' relays were clocked at 1:49.51 (200 medley), 1:38.17 (200 free) and 3:35.18 (400 free).

Kennedy is seeded in the top eight at the state meet in seven events.

GIRLS' SWIMMING & DIVING: LINN-MAR REGIONAL

At Linn-Mar Aquatic Center

Teams — 1. Bettendorf 430, 2. C.R. Kennedy 326, 3. Dubuque Wahlert 281, 4. C.R. Washington 278, 5. Linn-Mar 237, 6. Dubuque Senior 234, 7. Decorah 162, 8. C.R. Jefferson 136, 9. Dubuque Hempstead 55, 10. Vinton-Shellsburg 14.

Diving (Thursday) — 1. Jayden Lovell (CRK), 461.85; 2. Brooklyn Corey (LM), 399.45; 3. Katie Culver (LM), 398.65; 4. Elle Shearer (LM), 388.65; 5. Anna Penning (CRJ), 377.60.

200 medley relay — 1. Bettendorf (Van De Wiele, Ohlenshelen, Schade, Hassan), 1:48.54; 2. C.R. Kennedy, 1:49.51; 3. C.R. Washington, 1:49.68; 4. Linn-Mar, 1:50.95; 5. Dubuque Wahlert, 1:51.25.

200 freestyle — 1. Anna Pfeiffer (DS), 1:53.65; 2. Emily Van De Wiele (Bett), 1:55.63; 3. Jenny Hughes (CRW), 1:56.21; 4. Maddie Bagby (CRK), 1:56.40; 5. Kassidy Lovig (CRK), 1:56.61.

200 individual medley — 1. Arianna Ottavianelli (Bett), 2:09.63; 2. Victoria Michel (DW), 2:10.94; 3. Alexis Beine (Bett), 2:11.69; 4. Claire Wedewer (DS), 2:15.48; 5. Sage Ohlenshelen (Bett), 2:15.63.

50 freestyle — 1. Emma Sass (DS), 23.56; 2. Hena Hassan (Bett), 24.30; 3. Darby Manternach (CRK), 24.52; 4. Emma Bachelder (Dec), 24.56; 5. Lauren Havertape (CRW), 24.66.

100 butterfly — 1. Kelsey Drake (LM), 54.48 (all-time Iowa best); 2. Jessica Williams (CRK), 58.51; 3. Abbie Montag (DW), 59.39; 4. Megan Schade (Bett), 59.80; 5. Lauren Havertape (CRW), 1:00.03.

100 freestyle — 1. Anna Pfeiffer (DS), 52.78; 2. Maddie Bagby (CRK), 52.90; 3. Megan Greenley (Bett), 53.20; 4. Hena Hassan (Bett), 53.67; 5. Natalia Verastegui (DW), 54.25.

500 freestyle — 1. Karlie Welbes (DW), 5:09.01; 2. Kassidy Lovig (CRK), 5:09.69; 3. Jenny Hughes (CRW), 5:13.79; 4. Jill Hughes (CRW), 5:16.16; 5. Sarah Gannon (CRK), 5:19.70.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Bettendorf (Hassan, Beine, Ottavianelli, Greenley), 1:37.24; 2. C.R. Kennedy, 1:38.17; 3. Dubuque Senior, 1:43.71; 4. Dubuque Wahlert, 1:40.13; 5. Decorah, 1:40.56.

100 backstroke — 1. Jessica Williams (CRK), 57.90; 2. Victoria Michel (DW), 58.08; 3. Emily Van De Wiele (Bett), 59.56; 4. Megan Schade (Bett), 1:00.98; 5. Emma Sass (DS), 1:01.16.

100 breaststroke — 1. Kelsey Drake (LM), 1:04.69; 2. Alexis Beine (Bett), 1:06.57; 3. Arianna Ottavianelli (Bett), 1:06.63; 4. Sage Ohlenshelen (Bett), 1:06.88; 5. Emma Bachelder (Dec), 1:07.01.

400 freestyle relay — 1. Bettendorf (Van De Wiele, Schade, Ottavianelli, Greenley), 3:34.60; 2. C.R. Kennedy, 3:35.18; 3. Dubuque Wahlert, 3:38.48; 4. Decorah, 3:39.73; 5. C.R. Jefferson, 3:43.10.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com