Four Tri-City divers post state-qualifying scores
Four Tri-City competitors qualified for November’s state meet with their 11-dive scores Friday at George Prout Pool in Richland.
In Class 4A, Richland’s Kelsea Hinkley (443.80) and Kelsey Olsen (376.60) posted scores better than the state-qualifying standard of 365.
Hinkley, who competed at state the past two seasons, was fourth last year, while Olsen took 15th.
Kamiakin’s Saige Polanik (367.35) and Hanford’s Amanda Andersen (363.45) exceeded the state-qualifying 3A mark of 350. Both went to state in 2014, with Polanik finishing 11th.
4A: 1, Kelsea Hinkley (Richland) 443.80; 2, Kelsey Olsen (R) 376.60; 3, Alyssa Whittington (R) 319.45; 3A: 1, Saige Polanik (Kamiakin) 367.35; 2, Amanda Andersen (Hanford) 363.45; 3, Abby Winstead (Kam) 286.80.
RICHLAND/HANFORD AT WALLA WALLA: Walla Walla went 1-1 on Thursday at home, beating Hanford 86-84 but falling to Richland 109-61 in a Mid-Columbia Conference double dual.
Wa-Hi and Hanford were tied at 78 entering the final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay. The Blue Devil quartet of Mackenzie Hale, Hally Ruff, and Paige and Hannah Gardner finished in 4 minutes, 0.01 seconds, well ahead of the Falcons’ top time (4:11.39).
Walla Walla swimmers finished first in every event except the 100 butterfly, won by Megan Gelston, and the 200 free relay.
Hally Ruff (50 and 100 free), Mackenzie Hale (200 individual medley) and Paige Gardner (100 backstroke) also picked up wins against Richland. But the Bombers were powered by Claire Schaef’s victories in the 200 and 500 free. They also landed three swimmers in the top four in seven individual events and gained 10 points in each of the three relays.
Team scores: Richland 109, Walla Walla 61; Walla Walla 86, Hanford 84; 200 medley relay: 1, Richland (Kim, Schroder, Hall, Mennetrot) 1:58.64; 2, Walla Walla 2:02.79; 3, Hanford 2:03.32; 200 freestyle: 1, Claire Schaef (R) 2:00.15; 2, Paige Gardner (WW) 2:06.08; 3, BreAnn Bell (R) 2:10.52; 200 individual medley: 1, Mackenzie Hale (WW) 2:18.94; 2, Katie Schroder (R) 2:23.00; 3, Maddie Elliott (H) 2:25.68; 50 freestyle: 1, Hally Ruff (WW) 26.11; 2, Lauren Hall (R) 27.06; 3, Kelsey Olsen (R) 27.72; Diving: None; 100 butterfly: 1, Hall (R) 1:02.65; 2, Megan Gelston (H) 1:05.04; 3, April Mercer (R) 1:07.91; 100 freestyle: 1, Ruff (WW) 58.17; 2, Kayla Burck (H) 59.17; 3, Neomi Mennetrot (R) 1:00.11; 500 freestyle: 1, Schaef (R) 5:21.21; 2, Hale (WW) 5:35.65; 3, Elliott (H) 5:50.50; 200 freestyle relay: 1, Richland (Kim, Olsen, Workman, Schaef) 1:49.31; 2, Hanford 1:50.51; 3, Walla Walla 1:54.41; 100 backstroke: 1, P. Gardner (WW) 1:03.52; 2, Marcia Kim (R) 1:04.12; 3, Gelston (H) 1:06.79; 100 breaststroke: 1, Schroder (R) 1:12.20; 2, Hannah Gardner (WW) 1:16.14; 3, Annie Shen (H) 1:17.83; 400 freestyle relay: 1, Richland (Schaef, Hall, Schroder, Mennetrot) 3:52.08; 2, Walla Walla 4:00.01; 3, Hanford 4:11.39.
This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 8:27 PM with the headline "Four Tri-City divers post state-qualifying scores."