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Kostelnik has busy swim meet

By Jim Downey jdowney@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read
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Kelly Tunney | Herald-Standard

Laurel Highlands junior Lexie Kostelnik swims in the women’s 400-meter IM in Saturday’s preliminaries of the Eric Namesnik Memorial Swim Meet at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool.

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Laurel Highlands junior Lexie Kostelnik dives off the block for the women's 400 IM in Saturday's preliminaries of the Eric Namesnik Memorial Swim Meet at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.

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Laurel Highlands junior Lexie Kostelnik waits for the women's 400-meter freestyle in Saturday's preliminaries of the Eric Namesnik Memorial Swim Meet at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.

PITTSBURGH — Lexie Kostelnik had an ambitious schedule over the three-day Eric Namesnik Memorial Swim Meet held at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool. The Laurel Highlands junior entered herself in nine events, three each day, to not only work on her normal events, but a few off her board, as well.

“Everyone has their chance to do what they do best. I wanted to mix it up and do a variety of events,” explained Kostelnik.

Kostelnik is a distance specialist and the meet offered the opportunity to compete in races not normally offered, especially during the high school season.

Friday’s event list included the 200-meter freestyle, 800 freestyle and 200 individual medley. She competed in the 400 IM, 50 freestyle and 400 freestyle on Saturday, and closes the meet today with the 1,500-meter freestyle, 100 freestyle and 200 backstroke.

“I finished the 200 free in 2:11, but had a worse time in the consolation final (2:12). I had my best time in the 200 IM (2:31) and was scratched into the ‘C’ final. I finished in 2:33,” said Kostelnik. “I finished the 800 in 9:15 and my PR is 9:12. I was real happy with that.”

Kostelnik advanced to two finals on Saturday. She advanced to the “C” final in the 400 IM after a prelim time of 5:27.27. The distance specialist “wanted to mix it up” by swimming the 50 freestyle, just missing her personal best with her time of 29.59 seconds. She earned a spot in the consolation final in the 400 freestyle with a time of 4:33.83.

“I was pretty happy with (her time in the 400 freestyle),” said Kostelnik, who was fourth in the WPIAL Class AAA 400-yard freestyle this winter.

Her time in the “C” final of the 400 IM was 5:23, while she finished the 400 freestyle in the consolation final in 4:32.

Kostelnik, who was All-County in cross country last fall, appreciated the competition the meet provided.

“I wanted to get experience swimming in these meets,” said Kostelnik. “I like meters (and the long course). I’m not good at turns. I get into my turns better (in a meter race).

A couple of her teammates and one or two county competitors also participated in the meet on Saturday.

Laurel Highlands junior Brandon Thomas was third in his heat of the 200-meter breaststroke and 36th overall in a time of 2:47.31. Teammate Logan Knoyer was sixth in his heat of the 400 freestyle with a time of 4:46.23.

Connellsville teammates Ian McCombie (28.13) and Noah Barczyk (28.10) competed in the same heat of the 50-meter freestyle, but neither advanced to the finals. Barczyk finished the 400 freestyle in 4:42.96, while McCombie touched the wall in 4:54.60.

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