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Dankle finishes 8th in 500 freestyle

By Jim Downey jdowney@heraldstandard.Com 2 min read
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PITTSBURGH — Jael Dankle carved out her own bit of history Friday morning at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool when the Albert Gallatin sophomore won the school’s first WPIAL swimming medal.

Dankle finished eighth overall, moving onto the podium after swimming in the final heat. She actually finished seventh in the heat, but one swimmer from the next-to-last heat had a faster time.

Dankle said she kept an eye on the scoreboard as she awaited her turn on the starting block, but not too much of an eye.

“I tracked (the previous heats) a little bit. I wanted to see how people do,” said Dankle. “But, I try not to worry about it. It makes me nervous.

“I wanted to go a little faster than I did. My splits got slower and slower, but I’m glad I won a medal.”

Connellsville’s Carlee Shreve held the lap counter for Dankle. Shreve finished 10th overall after winning her heat of the 500 freestyle in 5:16.93, her second 10th-place finish of the meet.

“Carlee did well. I’m proud of her,” praised Dankle.

Dankle was in Lane 7 with Laurel Highlands freshman Maria Mrosko in Lane 8. Mrosko finished 15th overall and eighth in the final heat in a time of 5:19.36.

“I like to swim against people I know. I think I pushed her a little bit, too,” said Dankle.

As for her ground-breaking swimming medal, Dankle added, “It makes me feel really proud.”

Her older brother Caleb won his heat of the 500 freestyle in 4:58.71, finishing 16th overall.

Laurel Highlands’ Rachel Roscoe finished 16th in the 100 freestyle in 54.25 seconds, while her younger sister Jenna tied for 22nd with a time of 55.05 seconds.

The Falcons’ Noah Barczyk finished 33rd overall in the 100 freestyle in 50.78 seconds.

The Fillies’ Gwyneth Hamilton was 15th overall in the 100 backstroke in a time of 1:00.15. The Laurel Highlands girls 400 freestyle relay finished second in their heat with a time of 3:40.06, but fell a couple places shy of making the podium.

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