High school fast times

Swimming World and Junior Swimmer, Jan 2001

Florida. Christina Swindle, a sophomore at Gulliver Prep, broke two of the most hallowed national high school records in the books at the Florida Class A State High School Swim Champs in November. The just-- turned 16-year-old clocked 22.62 for the 50 yard freestyle to break Dara Torres' record of 22.69 set back in 1985-before Swindle was 1 year old. Then she came back to post a 49.33 for the 100 free, erasing Nicole Haislett's 49.34 set in 1989. Both Torres and Haislett went on to win Olympic gold medals following their high school record performances. Swindle is the first high school girl since Jill Sterkel to hold both the 50 and 100 yard freestyle records simultaneously.

There were other superb times in the Sunshine State. Clay Kirkland, a senior at Bolles, set state records in the 100 (44.27) and 200 yard freestyle (1:35.81). He also led off Bolles' winning 200 free relay (1:25.44) in 20.68, faster than the winning time in the 50 free. George Bovell, another Bolles senior, won the 200 IM (1:48.51) and 100 back (49.68) and led off Bolles' winning 400 free relay in 45.34. Bolles recorded a 3:02.47 in that relay. Damien Alleyne, Bolles, won the 500 free in 4:25.99 and finished second behind Kirkland in the 200 free (1:37.91). Lauren Duerk, Bolles, went 1:02.73 for the women's 100 breast and 2:02.98 for the 200 IM to win both events.

Illinois. Mary Descenza set a national prep school mark at the Illinois State Champs in November. The Aurora Rosary junior clocked 53.13 for the 100 fly. She also set a state mark of 1:48.66 in the 200 free. In the 200 IM, Belleville Althof's Jeana Fuccillo swam a very fast 2:02.27.