By Bruce Karnick

[email protected]

The Metro East Conference typically has three very strong teams in the Swim and Dive, and two of those teams are usually Hastings and Simley. Add in a growing Two Rivers program, and it makes for some very exciting meets. Hastings already downed Two Rivers in a dual meet. The opponent this week was HillMurray.

Hill Murray took the early meet lead 86 with the first race of the meet, the 200 Medley Relay. Hastings took the lead for good with the next race nabbing the top three finishers with Lauren Jenkins, Annika Ries and Chloe Arness finishing 1,2,3 in the 200 Freestyle giving the Raiders the 1911 lead. Lila Salzman, Emma Dehmlow and Mari Hall led the way in the 200 Individual Medley, Hastings again went 1,2,3 for places and extended their team lead 3214. The 50 Freestyle was no different for Hastings, another 1,2,3 placement from Clara Birken and Izzy Green who tied for first with a 27.33 second swim and Josey Larson who took third just .10 seconds behind the leaders, gave Hastings a huge 4517 lead heading into diving.

The Pioneers tried to make up some ground in diving, but the lead was nearly insurmountable. At the halfway point of the meet, Hastings led 5226.

The remainder of the meet went the way of Hastings and at one point, the Raiders led 9857. In swimming, once a score of 96 is reached by one team in a dual meet format, there is mathematically no chance for the opponent to win, and teams go exhibition the remainder of the way to not run up the score in a show of good sportsmanship. The final of the meet: Hastings 98, HillMurray 82.

“The girls really had fun at this meet,” explained Head Coach Katie McAlpin. “I set up races for them to race each other; in their individuals and in their relays. All of the relays were seeded within a second of each other and the individuals were as close as possible. The girls were trying to tie each other. Izzy Green and Clara Birken did tie in the 50 Freestyle, and both got lifetime best times.”

“Swimmers of the meet were Sofia Kovalenko and Lauren Jenkins, continued McAlpin. “Sofia swam three of the last five events and achieved one lifetime best, one season best time; and she won the 500 free by nine seconds. Lauren cut three seconds off of her 200 free time from last week, winning the event, and took third in the 500 free. Diver of the meet was Ashtyn Stewart. Ashtyn had a great meet. Her best so far this season and one of her lifetime bests. Ashtyn is very consistent throughout and very positive with her fellow divers.”

Hastings will host North St. Paul on Sep 22 at 6 p.m. at the Hastings Middle School pool. They will then host Mahtomedi at 6:30 p.m. on Sep. 29.

Lila Salzman placed first in the 200 individual medley, one second ahead of Emma Dehmlow of Hastings. Hastings took first, second and third in the 200 IM. Photo by Bruce Karnick

Mari Hall executes the peak of her dive perfectly against Hill-Murray. Hall placed sixth overall with a 151.10. Photo by Bruce Karnick