High school heroes

Swimming World and Junior Swimmer, Jan 1999

Last year, the Bolles School won its fourth straight girls' and first-ever boys' national high school team titles. Based on its performances at the Florida 4A state championship meet in November, the Jacksonville, Fla. school has its eyes set on yet another national title.

In boys' competition, Bolles was paced by junior Alex Lim, who scorched the national record for the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 46.97. He also stroked 47.74 to win the 100 flythe third-fastest high school time ever recorded. To top things off, Lim led off Bolles' state record-setting 200 medley relay (1:31.70) with a 22.15 split. Other splits on the relay: Ansel Tam (breast)26.06; Jeff Boatwright (fly)-22.71; Luke Anderson (free)-20.78.

Lim, who hails from Malaysia, has been clocked in 36+ for 75 yards backstroke kicking, according to his coach, Larry Shofe.

Trinity Prep's Rassan Grant won the 100 breast and 200 IM in 55.68 and 1:51.26.

On the women's side, Bolles soph Janelle Atkinson, a Jamaican, won the 500 free in a swift 4:40.10. Bolles went 1-2-3 in the 200 free with Melissa Deary winning in 1:47.59, followed by Atkinson (1:48.56) and Jenna Bridges (1:49.04). Trinity Prep's Cristy Watkins took the 100 fly (55.60) and 100 back (55.43). Teammate Mirjana Bosevska went 2:00.97 to win the 200 IM, while Andrea Georoff sprinted the 50 in 23.08.