Lind sets new diving record

It was a successful day in and out of the water for the Blue Jay swimming and diving team on Saturday.

Jamestown High School placed fourth in the 7-team Marney Shirley Invitational, highlighted by a team and pool record by diver Alex Lind and a 1-2 finish in the backstroke by the Hart sisters.

Out of the water, the meet raised close to $2,000 for breast cancer awareness thanks to t-shirt and swim cap sales and donations made during the meet.

“It was a successful day all the way around,” said JHS coach Ben Smith. “It was a good meet for us in that it was our chance to prepare for the WDA and state meets. We were making final changes and tweaks in the lineup and events to make sure everybody is comfortable and in the right places to give it their best shot at going to state.”

Lind continued to dive a level different than anybody else — ever. The junior’s score of 494.25 shattered school and pool records and actually is the highest score in state history, although state records can only be set at the state meet.

“She had another great day,” Smith said. “It was really great that happened for her.”

Mercedes Westereng was fifth off the board with 367.15, which was also a personal best. In fact, all four JHS divers set PRs. Abbie Conlon’s 317.15 was her top mark and seventh-grader Morgan Mews qualified for state with a score of 282.30.

“For all four of them to get personal-best scores is pretty impressive,” Smith said.

The swimmers did their part, too.

Erin and Annie Hart went 1-2 in the backstroke in times of 1:10.18 and 1:02.65, respectively.

Erin was also second in the 200 free and swam the anchor leg in the Blue Jays’ third-place 200 free relay team, which posted a season-best time of 1:46.17. Annie Hart had the third leg. Paige Peterson led it off and Kamie Wagar swam second.

Peterson and Wagar each had nice days individually.

Peterson finished behind only Dani Bergeson (25.86) of Bismarck Century and Williston’s Paige Fisketjon (26.47) in the 50 free. She touched third in 26.57.

Wagar was third in the 100 butterfly (1:05.28) behind only Rachel Ford of Mandan and Bergeson.

“To place that high was really nice for Paige and Kamie,” Smith said.

In the 100 free, Annie Hart was fourth and Peterson eighth.

Brianna Johnson gave the Blue Jays three of the top seven times in the backstroke, touching seventh in 1:09.42 to go along with the 1-2 by the Harts.

Wagar and Chesney Middaugh went 8-9 in the 100 breaststroke.

“It wasn’t so much about where we placed, but everybody had goals for times and everybody was where I wanted them,” Smith said. “I think we’re in pretty good shape going into (WDA) and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.”

Williston took team honors Saturday, piling up 541 points. Century was second and Minot third.

The region meet will be held Saturday in Mandan.

Marney Shirley Invite

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