Lady Falcon swimmers close season on winning note
The Connellsville girls ended the regular season Thursday on a winning note with a 94-59 road victory in the Section 5-AA finale at Uniontown.
Kallee Maloy led the charge for the Lady Falcons with first-place finishes in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.82) and 200 freestyle (2:04.87). Both times met the WPIAL qualifying standard.
The freshman also joined Abigail Harvey, Allison Johnson and Kassidy Callahan to win the 200 freestyle relay in a qualifying time of 1:49.69 and Kassidy Callahan, Harvey and Madelynn Johnson for first place in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 4:11.77.
The victory in the 200 freestyle relay met one of Maloy’s goals for the meet.
“I’m trying to get the 200 freestyle relay tonight. We hit it once (earlier in the season), but we were disqualified,” said Maloy.
Maloy has the weekend to decide which two events she’ll enter for the WPIAL championship.
“I’m thinking about the 100 backstroke. That’s my best event. I’ll look to see where I’m ranked the highest,” said Maloy.
Maloy hasn’t been overwhelmed with her first season of high school swimming, noting she’s been competing for nearly a decade.
“I’ve been doing it since I was three or four. Meets are not new to me,” explained Maloy.
Maloy also said she has a friendly competition to better her sister Molly’s marks.
“I want to get that 50 freestyle, which I could do a little better. That’s what my sister swam,” said Maloy.
Kassidy Callahan won the 100 butterfly in 1:08.99. Callahan finished second in the 200 IM with a WPIAL qualifying time.
Madelynn Johson finished first in the 500 freestyle in 6:14.48. Ryann Lilley touched the wall first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:16.67.
The Lady Raiders’ Hannah Foster won the 200 IM (2:21.06) and 100 freestyle (57.26). Both times were WPIAL qualifying marks, and her time in the 200 IM was a season best.
Foster, Joss Rutter, Jacquelyn Jeffreys and Hannah Sabatula finished first in the 200 medley relay with a time of 2:07.12. The same quartet placed second in the 200 freestyle relay.
“My 100 freestyle was okay. My split in the 200 freestyle relay was good,” said Foster.
Foster has a number of options to select for her two individual events in the district championship.
“Mr. Yauger told me we’ll have to talk about that. I feel most confident in the 100 breaststroke. (The breaststroke) has always been my best,,” said Foster. “My time in the 200 IM is close.
“I’m getting there. We haven’t tapered yet.”
Foster will be joined by teammate Joss Rutter in the WPIAL final.
“Joss qualified for the 200 IM for the first time. We’ll be together on the first day,” said Foster.
Foster, a sophomore, is looking forward to her second trip to the WPIAL championship.
“It was really fun. It was amazing when I made it for the first time,” added Foster.
Jeffreys won the 50 freestyle in 26.77 seconds. Emma Young finished first in diving with 149.45 points.