Swimming

February 14, 2011

From Star staff reports       

FORK UNION- Sherando junior Megan De Jong had two top-five finishes to lead the Warriors to ninth place Saturday at the Region II Swim and Dive Championship at Fork Union Military Academy.

Western Albemarle won the girls' title with 163 points. Briar Woods was second (120), Sherando was ninth (26), Handley was 17th (7), Millbrook was 20th (5) and James Wood was 21st (3).

In the boys' meet, Brentsville was first (128 points), Broad Run was second (97), Millbrook was ninth (25), and Sherando was 16th (8).

Individuals who placed in the top eight and relays which placed in the top four qualified for the Group AA/A state meet, which will be held Feb. 24-26 at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center. Those who already achieved state qualifying times and those who achieved them without finishing among the top eight in individual events or top four in relay events Saturday are also eligible for the state meet.

De Jong placed third in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2 minutes, 31.60 seconds. She also took fifth in the 400 free in 4:55.07. Warriors teammate Kelsey Dingman placed sixth in the 50 free in 29.32.

Other girls who placed in the top eight were Handley's Sparkle Kitchin (sixth in the 400 free in 4:55.87, seventh in the 100 free in 1:04.70), Millbrook's Katie Kozlowski (fifth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:19.66) and James Wood's Kaye Whitacre (seventh in the 100 breaststroke in 1:22.04).

De Jong's brother Morgan led Sherando on the boys' side, taking sixth in both the 200 IM (2:24.56) and 100 breaststroke (1:14.04).

Millbrook's Jacob Rector had the highest individual finish of any area boy, placing fourth in the 50 free in 25.71. Teammate Thomas Northrup took eighth in both the 200 IM (2:28.82) and the 100 breaststroke (1:14.60). The Pioneers' Mitchell Lippy was eighth in the 400 free (4:41.55).