Records Fall as Westminster Christian, Huntsville Four-Peat at Alabama 6A-7A State Championships

westminster christian academy alabama states 2019

Photo Courtesy: Westminster Athletics Twitter (@WCA_Wildcats)

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The 2019 Alabama 6A-7A State Swimming & Diving Championships took place on Dec. 7 at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center at Auburn University.

The girls of Westminster Christian Academy swept all three relays to secure their fourth-straight state title in dominant fashion, finishing with 290 points ahead of runner-up Auburn’s 181. Huntsville used their impressive depth to also clinch their fourth-consecutive boys’ championship crown with a final score of 288 ahead of Daphne’s 236.

A total of four Alabama state records were broken throughout the meet. Westminster Christian’s Rebekah Hamilton broke her own record in the 200 free in a quick 1:46.91 while her teammate Eboni McCarty eclipsed the 50 free record (22.63) she set last year. Daphne’s Trey Sheils lowered his own 100 breast (54.95) record and anchored the record-setting 4×100 free relay (3:09.01).

Click HERE for full results.

Click HERE for final team scores.

GIRLS MEET

Top 5 Team Scores:

1. Westminster Christian – 290
2. Auburn – 181
3. Spain Park – 169
4. Grissom – 165
5. Fairhope – 163

Westminster Christian began their winning ways as Lauren McAdams (26.88), Jewel Krings (29.30), Amanda Dowling (27.16), and McCarty (22.42) combined to win the opening 4×50 medley relay in 1:45.76. Krings (25.52), Larissa Dowling (25.06), Hamilton (22.91), and McCarty (23.02) also won the 4×50 free relay in 1:36.51.

McCarty then went on to sprint to first in the 50 free, winning for the second-straight season by over a full second in a speedy 22.88. Her time of 22.63 during prelims broke her own state record of 22.81 set in 2018. McCarty then proved her sprint prowess by successfully defending her 100 free state title, winning the event in 50.07.

Hamilton cruised to first in the 200 free to defend her title, stopping the clock in a quick 1:46.91 as the first of only two swimmers in the field under the 1:50 barrier. Her time demolished her own state record of 1:49.45 she set at this meet last year. Hamilton, who has verbally committed to Auburn, also won the 500 free for the second-consecutive season in 4:57.95 as the only athlete under the five-minute marker.

Hoover’s Caroline Lawrence powered home to a three-second victory in the 200 IM, touching the wall in 2:06.87 over Fairhope’s Kaleigh Spears (2:09.27). Spears then went on to redeem herself by winning the 100 fly in 56.62 ahead of Huntsville’s Madelyn Yates (57.11).

Huntsville’s Julia Krichev dominated the 100 back, winning the event by nearly two full seconds in a final time of 55.86 over McAdams (57.55). After earning bronze in the 100 breast a year ago, future Arkansas Razorback Bradi Jones of Opelika grabbed gold this year in 1:04.53 ahead of Krings (1:04.82).

Hillcrest’s M’Kay Gidley dove to first on the 1-meter board, posting a final score of 322.00 ahead of Randolph’s Anna Cate Goodson score of 282.75. Westminster Christian made it a relay sweep to secure their team title as Natalie Byron (55.66), L. Dowling (56.32), McAdams (52.80), and Hamilton (49.08) won the 4×100 free relay in 3:33.86.

BOYS MEET

Top 5 Team Scores:

1. Huntsville – 288
2. Daphne – 236
3. Auburn – 209
4. St. Paul’s Episcopal – 205
5. Grissom – 199

The boys’ meet began as St. Paul’s Episcopal’s Stephen Conrad (22.94), William Jameson (26.78), Noah Prevost (22.98), and Jacks Mitchell (21.60) won the 4×50 medley relay in 1:34.30 ahead of Daphne’s 1:35.21. Jameson (22.44), Mitchell (21.68), Prevost (21.51), and Conrad (20.79) also won the 4×50 free relay in 1:26.42.

After placing third a year ago, Daphne’s Andrew Jordan clinched the gold medal in the 200 free this season after winning in 1:39.64 as the only swimmer in the race to crack the 1:40-barrier. Jordan also went on to dominate the 500 free, touching the wall in 4:29.34 to finish eight seconds ahead of the runner-up.

Sheils defended his title in the 200 IM with a winning time of 1:50.52, five seconds ahead of the field and his prelims time of 1:50.14 was just off the state mark of 1:49.88. The Alabama commit also defended his title in the 100 breast with a time of 55.90; his prelims swim of 54.95 broke his own state record he set last season.

Grissom’s Owen Harlow splashed-and-dashed his way to the state title in the 50 free, clocking in at a swift 20.92 ahead of Spain Park’s Austin Stallworth (21.54). Soon after, Harlow was back in the water to claim his second individual gold medal after winning the 100 free in a speedy 46.00.

Conrad found himself on top of the podium in the 100 fly for the second-straight year, winning by nearly two seconds in 49.93 ahead of Bob Jones’ Riley Groves (51.21). His fourth gold medal, and second individual one, came in the 100 back where he raced to first in 49.03 as the only person to sneak under the 50-second marker.

Huntsville’s Hampton Jarres dove to first on the 1-meter board after posting a final score of 362.85 ahead of Hartselle’s Avery Balch (360.80). Daphne’s Evan Ren (48.97), Eli Poole (49.02), Jordan (45.78), and Sheils (45.24) concluded the meet as champions in the 4×100 free relay, posting a time of 3:09.01 to break Bob Jones’ 2009 state record of 3:09.93.

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