No. 2 Cougars dominate in the pool

CEDAR RAPIDS — A dominant freshman and superior depth led Cedar Rapids Kennedy to a win over Linn-Mar last night in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls' swimming and diving meet at Kennedy.

Kennedy, ranked second in the most recent quikstatsiowa.com power rankings, split the 12 events with sixth-ranked Linn-Mar, but downed the Lions in total points, 110-76.

'Solid team effort, team depth really showed up today,' Kennedy Coach John Ross said. 'This is always a great rivalry with Linn-Mar.'

Kennedy freshman Brooke Timmerman posted a couple of easy wins in the 200 individual medley and the 100 breast stroke, winning each by more than four seconds. Timmerman gave credit to her encouraging teammates and the squad's practice regimen.

'It felt good, I really felt strong after all our weightlifting and practice that we do,' Timmerman said. 'JR (Coach John Ross) really helped a lot, the team really helped a lot with their pushing me in practice.'

Kennedy raced out with wins in the first three events, highlighted by junior Sam Jacobsen, who fended off Linn-Mar nationally ranked triathlete Stephanie Jenks with a couple of nifty flip turns to claim the 200 free by less than a second in 2:00.40.

'It was a lot of fun, we're friendly rivals with Linn-Mar,' said Jacobsen, who also helped the Cougars capture the 200 free relay at 1:42.80 and took second in the 100 backstroke. 'It felt really good to win a couple of events and help with some other ones.'

Jenks rebounded by winning the 100 free in 56:72, outpacing the Cougar duo of Kirsten Siebenga and Hannah Botkin over the final 25 yards. Stephanie's younger sister, Jen Jenks, claimed two wins of her own in the 50 free and 100 backstroke.

'I try not to focus on everyone else, you only kept speed in your lanes,' Jen Jenks said. 'That's all you've got so you've just got to work with it.'Linn-Mar will compete in this Saturday's Muscatine Invitational, while Kennedy travels to Cedar Falls Sep. 10.