4A Girls Swimming: Jackson easily earns team title

FEDERAL WAY — Saturday's Class 4A state swimming and diving championships turned into the "smoking-fast meet" one coach predicted, and no school was hotter than Jackson.

On a speed-filled afternoon when four state records fell and 21 times in 11 events earned automatic All-American status, the Mill Creek school opened and closed the meet with relay wins. And in between, the Timberwolves' Amber McDermott was named swimmer of the meet after she obliterated a 12-year-old record in the 500-yard freestyle by nearly eight seconds.

With wins in the 200 medley relay (1 minute, 48.02 seconds), 400 freestyle relay (3:32.26), 500 free (McDermott in a dazzling 4:41.98) and the 50 free (junior Alana Pazevic defended her 2007 title in 23.55), Jackson amassed 190 points to run away with the team title, the first in girls swimming in school history.

Jackson coach Drew Whorley, in his 11th season, was named 4A coach of the year.

"The girls have had an exceptional attitude all year," Whorley said. "They've been fun, they've been enthusiastic, they've been positive, and all that built up to swimming our best today.

"That's any coach's goal: You want to be your best at the end of the season. It all came together at the right time, and I'm so proud."

Defending co-champion Garfield finished second (157.5 points), followed by Redmond (148.5), Beamer (143) and Ballard (140).

McDermott, a 6-foot sophomore, had crushed a 1996 record in the 500 free by three seconds (4:46.68) last week in her district meet. Saturday she lapped some swimmers in her heat as she churned to her glittering new mark. Even she was a little surprised.

"I was just going for under 45 [4:45], and when I touched the wall I and saw the time, I thought, 'Whoa!' " she said.

One of the swimmers she defeated was her older sister, Courtney, who placed sixth in 5:05.80.

Was she impressed by her sister's performance? "She's Amber McDermott," said Courtney, a junior, as she clowned with her sister in a postrace celebration. "She can do anything."

McDermott's close friend and club teammate Annemarie Thayer of Ballard also set a state record of 53.95, in the 100 backstroke, edging Chelsea Bailey of Kentlake (54.84). Her record was shortlived, as Leona Jennings of Mount Rainier swam 53.66 Saturday night at the 3A state meet.

"It was very tiring," said Thayer, a junior who attends King's High School and swims for Ballard. "But out of the corner of my eye I could see people reacting, so I knew I was going fast. I just kept moving."

Earlier Bailey set a state record of her own, using her 6-2 frame to outstretch club teammate Andie Taylor of Skyline in the 100 free, winning in 49.82 seconds.

Both times surpassed the record of 50.16 set in 2003 by 2008 Olympian Emily Silver of Bainbridge.

"I knew it was going to be a fast meet," said Bailey, a sophomore. "But being here and seeing all these records broken got me pumped up."

Taylor, after winning the 200 and 500 free in the past two 3A meets (and setting the state record last year), tried new events. Saturday she set her second state record in the 200 individual medley, breaking the record time she set a week ago at district by swimming 1:58.23.

"I wasn't thinking about the record," said Taylor, a junior who competed in seven events at this year's U.S. Olympic trials. "I just wanted to get a good time, and I guess the record came along with it."

Notes

• Eastlake freshman Kathryn Kinnear won the 100 butterfly in a career-best 54.73. Junior Maddy Morgan of Garfield and sophomore Heather Harper of Redmond tied for first in the 100 breaststroke.

• Scarlett Cann of Stadium nipped Garfield sophomore Fiona Majeau (1:51.76 to 1:51.81) at the wall in the 200 free.

• Beamer of Federal Way picked up a win in the 200 free relay (1:38.94).

• Stacey Luke of Inglemoor built a 15-point lead to win the 1-meter diving (412.70 points).