Pittsford's Lewis sets backstroke record
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Pittsford's Lewis sets backstroke record |
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Matt Weinstein November 9 — Jenny Lewis had one thing to say when asked if her final Section V championship meet could have gone better. "Three-one hundredths on the backstroke maybe," said the senior from Pittsford Sutherland, who narrowly missed the state record in the 100-yard backstroke. "But I'm really happy with how I did and that is what the state meet is for, to get that record. Lewis set the Section V record in that event (55.18 seconds) and finished with four sectional titles as she led Pittsford to its sixth consecutive team title Friday at the Class A championships at Webster Aquatic Center. Lewis also won the 100 freestyle and was on the winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams for Pittsford, which won the team event with 574.5 points. "I credit most of our success to coach (Marty Keating)," added Lewis, who was also named Swimmer of the Meet. "He is more than a coach and he is one of my role models. He is constantly working with us." The Panthers won five of 12 events. Fairport, which has finished second for the last six years, won four events for 422 points. "I seem to be lucky because every year I get a group of girls who come to work hard," Keating said. "They work all year and listen to everything the coaches have to say." Lewis, who also broke the 100 backstroke record on Tuesday in the preliminaries, has won the event for three consecutive years and is the defending state champion. Lewis was also the defending champion in the 100 freestyle. "I don't really plan for a race," said Lewis, who will attend the university of Virginia next fall. "I just talk myself through every stroke during the race and try to use everything I have to win." Fairport junior Jenna Wood finished first in the 200 freestyle and also qualified for the state meet in the 100 backstroke, placing second. Wood was the defending champion in the 100 backstroke, but did not compete in the event this year. "I was really happy because this whole season I was having a hard time with getting my times down," Wood said. "It all came together today and I probably had my best meet of the year." Teammate Emily Gardner took first place in the 200 individual medley, finishing in 2:11.03. Gardner finished more than two seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, Pittsford's Sarah Dempsey. Gardner, a senior, also qualified for the state meet in the 500 freestyle. Junior Jenny Chiang won her third consecutive diving title for the Red Raiders. She finished more than 120 points ahead of the second-place finisher. "There are always some things that I would like to improve and get better on, but I can't be disappointed with the result," Chiang said. Rush-Henrietta junior Mallory Morrell won her second consecutive title in the 50 freestyle and also qualified for the state meet in the 100 freestyle. The NYSPHSAA championship meet will be held next Friday and Saturday at the Nassau County Aquatic Center.
Originally published in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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