State Swim Meet

From Star Staff Reports

Norfolk — Handley High School senior Ben Grove advanced to the finals in a pair of events at the Group A/AA state swim meet at Old Dominion University Friday.

Grove finished first (51.12) in the preliminary heat in the 100 yard breaststroke and qualified third (1:58.6) in the 200 individual medley.

Grove, the defending state champ in the 100 breast, also helped Handley’s 200 medley relay qualify for today’s finals, teaming with Taylor Watts, Sam Stearns and Steven Amos to take 15th (1:46.48).

James Wood’s Kevin Carver also qualified in a pair of events. He came in sixth (22.6) in the 50 free and tied for 10th (51.12) in the 100 free.

Clarke County’s Kevin Broderick made the finals after taking fourth in the 100 breast (1:00.99).

James Wood’s Emalee Firestein advanced to the finals in both the 200 free and 500 free. Firestein came in 12th (2:01.34) in the 200 free and took 15th (5:31.13) in the 500 free.

Sherando’s Megan DeJong also advanced to today’s finals by finishing 14th (2:16.17) in the 200 I.M. DeJong will be an alternate in the 500 free after taking 17th (5:32.87).

Sherando’s 200 free relay team of DeJong, Marina Baker, Christina Lee and Alexis English came in 18th place (1:47.98) to make an alternate spot.

Other area swimmers finishing in the top 25 in the prelims included James Wood’s Kaye Whitacre (19th, 1:12.51) and Millbrook’s Katie Kozlowski (21st, 1:12.58) in the 100 breast, Millbrook’s Jacob Rector (23rd, 23.74) in the 50 free, Sherando’s Peter Restrepo (19th, 56.2) in the 100 fly, and Sherando’s 400 free relay team of Baker, DeJong, English and Nell Garver (20th, 4:02.36).

The top 16 from Friday’s prelims advance to today’s finals.