Byrd girls win All-Timesland meet, set five new records in the process
VINTON – The Gator Center pool in Roanoke was buzzing last Saturday as 17 schools competed in the fifth annual All-Timesland High School Invitational swim meet. It was a special day for the William Byrd girls, who served as host of the meet and came home with the championship.
The Byrd girls not only won the meet, but shattered five meet records in the process.
Brittany Ritter swims the free-style.
“We had an really exciting weekend,” said Byrd coach Krista Martin. “This year was one of the best with roughly 350 student athletes representing seventeen of some of the finest programs in the state of Virginia. It is a special event for the fifth year in a row for the high school swimming community.”
First place individuals for the Terriers were Kali Edsall in the 100 Back with a time of 58.33, which was a new meet record. Also, Annie Lane won the 100 Breast with a time of 1:06.73, which was a new meet record, breaking her own school record from 2011.
Byrd won all three relay events and set new meet records in each. In each race the relay team included Kali Edsall, Kacy Edsall, Mackenzie Lingle and Lane.
The 200 Medley Relay swam a time of 1:50.94 for a new meet record. The 200 Free Relay finished in 1:40.83 for a new meet record, and that also broke the school record from Feb. 26, 2011 of 1:41.57 set by Lane, Caitlin Gerig, Kali Edsall and Kacy Edsall. Finally, the 400 Free Relay swam 3:43.87 for yet another new meet record.
Byrd qualifiers that swam at finals and scored points for the team were Kali Edall, Lane, Kacy Edsall, Mackenzie Lane, Brittany Ritter, Courtney Heck, Paige Crocker, Luke Gerig, Emily Heck, Drew Vipperman, Sarah Vipperman, Megan Liptak and Morgan Liptak.
“I am so proud of our swimmers,” said Martin. “This was our first really big meet of the season and they handled the added pressure. Our year around swimmers really performed and swam in some incredible races and our non-year around swimmers were outstanding as well.”
Byrd had more swimmers reach the finals than in any previous year.
“We had so many best times and big drops,” said Martin. “We had more swimmers make it back this year than any previous year, and that’s one thing that made us competitive at night. I love to watch fast swimming and close races and there was plenty of that happening at the Gator Center Saturday night. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the season will bring.”
Hidden Valley won the boys title and Byrd was 14th. Combining scores, Hidden Valley was first, followed by Cave Spring, Salem, Patrick Henry, and the Terriers.
The Byrd swimmers were scheduled to be back home at the Gator Center on Wednesday for a meet with Cave Spring. Next Wednesday, January 18, they host Rockbridge and Alleghany.
