Class 4A girls swimming championships: Kukors sets mark; Rogers claims title

FEDERAL WAY — On a night when Rogers of Puyallup paddled off with its first Class 4A girls swimming title, Auburn senior Emily Kukors won two events and set an all-time state record in the 100-yard freestyle.

Kukors won the freestyle in 50.29 seconds, defending her 2001 title and bettering the all-time mark of 50.33 set in 1999 by Sara Platzer of 3A Lakes.

Kukors also won the 200 individual medley in 2:01.14, missing the state record of 2:01.10 set in 1994 by Kari Edwards of Columbia River (Vancouver).

Kukors said she was disappointed with her final strokes in the 200 IM that cost her a shot at the record and renewed her "no regrets" vow in the 100.

When she touched the finish pad, she looked up at scoreboard, saw the good news, but admitted, "It didn't click at first." A few seconds later, she realized she had broken the state mark.

Kukors, who was named swimmer of the meet based on the quality of her victories, is expected to decide Monday whether to accept a swimming scholarship to Arizona State or Southern Methodist.

Rogers amassed 266 points to finish ahead of 2001 champion Capital of Olympia (200.5). Gig Harbor was third with 168, followed closely by Central Kitsap (167) and Kamiak (157.5).

Rogers junior Megan Rains was a double winner and swam on two-record setting relays. Rains won the 200 freestyle in 1:48.77 (second-fastest time in state history) and defended her 100 backstroke title in 56.44. Jill Kripps of Roosevelt was second in the 200 in 1:53.74.

The championships started with an all-time state-record performance as Rogers' 200 medley relay swam 1:45.82. The previous mark of 1:47.06 was set by Foss of Tacoma in 1984. The Rogers swimmers were Jesika Heidloff, junior twins Chelsey and Cora Freeman and Rains.

Rogers closed the meet with a record 3:29.68 clocking in the 400 free relay. The swimmers were Emily Strouse (who won the 100 butterfly in 56.07), the Freeman twins and Rains.

"This is unbelievable," said Rains after Rogers had won the title. "We knew the state championship as a team was within our grasp."

Coach Heather Hoskins had a five-word description of her state-champion team: "an outstanding group of girls."

Oak Harbor sophomore Missy McIntyre was a double winner, defending her 100 breaststroke title in 1.04.3 and also winning the 50 free in 23.92.

Juanita senior Alyson Carlyon won the diving by 52.7 points with a score of 428.65.

Carlyon learned just before her final dive that she had a comfortable lead and said, "That took a lot of pressure off."

Carlyon proceeded to nail the final dive, an acrobatic back 1-1/2 flip with 1-1/2 twists.

The triumph marked steady improvement for Carlyon, who finished seventh as a sophomore and fourth last year. Unlike many winners at yesterday's meet, Carlyon has been competing in year-round club competition for only a year.

Decatur senior Sandy Hong won the 500 free in 5:00.24. She had finished second last year.

"Before the race, I didn't want to think about winning," she said. "I didn't want to psych myself out. I gave myself a goal-time instead."

That goal was to finish between 4:55 and 4:58. She missed the goal but got the first-place medal.

Gig Harbor won the 200 free relay in 1:38.79.

Notes

• Chris Erickson of Kamiak was named 4A coach of the year.

• One unidentified swimmer was in the middle of the warmup pool when the national anthem was sung. She put her hand over her heart and used her legs to keep swimming.

• The Battle Ground swim team of Vancouver was awarded the state scholar-athlete award for a team grade-point average of 3.804.