After back-to-back, third place finishes in the overall Nassau County Champs, The Manhasset Girls Swim Team had their sights on the top spot. During the dual meet season the Indians finished second to Long Beach, after defeating Garden City for the first time in program history. In contention for the County Championship was undefeated conference champ Long Beach, 16 time defending County Champion Garden City, three time defending Conference 1 champ Bellmore-Merrick and Manhasset. The anticipation around the county was for one of the greatest county meets in history.
The meet certainly lived up to the hype in a highly competitive showdown that brought out the best in every team and athlete. When the meet was over, a record number of athletes 43 from Nassau County qualified for State Champs.
The Manhasset Indians certainly did their part, swimming lights out to have their best county meet in program history. In the process, the Indians seemed to set every program record and school record—well almost. The team sent a record number of qualifiers, 20, to compete in the championships. A record number of 13 girls competed in the finals round. A team record 15 top 10 finishes were recorded and the team finished with the highest point total 447 in school history. The Indians also broke 8 of 11 school swimming records.
In the meet’s opening event, the 200 Medley Relay Team of Grace Kenlon, Allegra Sodi, Megan Smith and Garrity Kuester set a new school record time of 1:50.53 finishing 2nd and qualifying for the NYS Champs.
In the second event, the 200 Freestyle, seniors Julia Henry and Sodi finished eighth and ninth in personal best times of 2:00.89 and 2:01.97. In the next event, the 200 IM, Claire McNeary finished third in a new school record time of 2:07.58. Senior Kylie Mulholland finished fourth in a personal best time of 2:09.16. Both girls qualified for the NYS Champs.
In the 50 Freestyle, Manhasset had three top qualifiers. Garrity Kuester finished second in a personal best time of 24.75, qualifying for the NYS Champs. Senior Kenlon swam a personal best time of 24.97 to finish fourth. Junior Madeline Kang swam a season best time of 25.61 to finish 11th, winning the consolation finals heat.
In the 100 Butterfly, Junior Smith finished fourth in a season best time of 58.69. Sophomore McNeary finished sixth in a season best time of 59.61. Both girls qualified for the NYS Champs. Senior Meredith Johnson swam a personal best 1:02.96 to finish 16th.
Event #7, the 100 Freestyle, Junior Kang swam a personal best time of 55.78 to finish eighth.
The 500 Freestyle, Manhasset qualified 4 girls in the top 20. Mulholland finished second in a new school record time of 5:06.82, qualifying for the NYS Champs. Henry swam a season best 5:25.71 to finish 10th. Sophomore Olivia Garvey swam a season best, 5:37.42 to finish 17th. Freshman Lara McCusker swam a personal best, 5:37.27 on Friday to qualify and finished 20th on Saturday.
In the next event, the 200 Free Relay, the Manhasset relay of Kenlon, Kang, Kuester and Mulholland finished first in a school record time of 1:39.16, qualifying for the NYS Champs. Kenlon’s leadoff leg of 24.67 set a new school record and qualified her for the NYS Champs.
In the next event, the 100 Backstroke, Manhasset qualified three girls in the top 10. Kenlon finished 2nd in a new school record time of 59.22, qualifying for the NYS Champs. Johnson swam a personal best 1:01.05, finishing third. Sodi swam a personal best 1:02.55 to finish sixth.
In the 100 Breaststroke, Smith swam a school record time 1:06.31, finishing third and qualifying for the NYS Champs. Freshman Francesca Antonopoulos swam a personal best 1:11.34 to finish 12th. Kuester finished 14th on Saturday.
In the day’s final event, the 400 Freestyle Relay of McNeary, Madeline Kang, Johnson and Mulholland swam a school record time of 3:43.58 finishing fourth.
All-Conference Honors went to:
Julia Henry
Madeline Kang
Meredith Johnson
Claire McNeary
Kylie Mulholland
Allegra Sodi
All-County Honors went to:
Meredith Johnson
Grace Kenlon
Garrity Kuester
Madeline Kang
Claire McNeary
Kylie Mulholland
Megan Smith
Allegra Sodi
The team scores for counties were Long Beach in third with 421.5 points, Manhasset with 447 points in second and Garden City with 500 points was first.
