Boys swim notes: Richland’s Westendorf eyes more state cuts

Cole Westendorf still has some time to figure out which two individual events he wants to swim at state next month in Federal Way.

The Richland High School junior has qualified in the 100-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke, but he has his eye on another race.

Swimming for the Tri-City Channel Cats during last weekend’s Washington Open in Federal Way, Westendorf took fourth in the 500 free final with a time of 4 minutes, 39.49 seconds. The Class 4A state time standard is 4:59.90.

“It came out of nowhere, but it felt good,” said Westendorf, who had a 4:43.33 in preliminaries. “My endurance and freestyle technique have gotten a lot better.”

Westendorf was entered in December’s Washington State Senior Short Course Championships in Federal Way with a time of 4:53.97, which he swam at the end of the previous short course season.

His training and swims during the long course season paid off. Westendorf clocked a 4:50.79 in prelims and a 4:47.14 in finals.

He crushed those times a few weeks later.

Westendorf also could put the 200 free on his list of possible state events. He was 10th at the Washington Open, finishing in 1:44.70. The 4A state time standard in that event is 1:49.00.

“He’s always been a great freestyler,” Richland/Hanford coach Jesse Grow said. “Everything just seems to be clicking. He’s reaching a growth spurt, not necessarily physically, but mentally. That’s definitely boosting his middle-distance freestyles, the 200 and 500.”

Westendorf has felt a little torn about his recent success in the 500. He’s good friends with Bombers/Channel Cats teammate Jeff Kern, who was fourth in the 500 free at state in 2015.

Kern qualified for this year’s state meet during the Kentridge Invitational on Jan. 9.

“I kind of wanted him to dominate it,” said Westendorf, who might go for his state cut in the 500 during Saturday’s meet in Pullman. “I didn’t want to tread on his area. But if we can 1-2 (in) that event, that would be a lot of points for state.”

FINDING A NEW GEAR: No matter the distance, Hanford freshman John Markillie seems to have little trouble conquering it.

Markillie was fifth for the Channel Cats in the 1,650 free during the Washington State Senior Short Course Championships. He finished in 16:34.46.

On the other side of the distance spectrum, he had the top time of the day in the 100 free (50.70) during last Saturday’s meet with Wenatchee, Richland and Walla Walla.

“My club coach and Jesse (Grow) have been trying to make me become a better sprinter,” Markillie said. “They say once I get really good at the 100, it will help all my other races.”

This week, Markillie announced at practice that he wants to try the 50 free, which Grow called “the hardest event in the lineup.”

“You make one mistake, you go from first to third,” Grow said. “It’s so unforgiving. But he asked for it. I’m excited to be able to put him in that and watch him surprise himself. He was surprised to get that 50 point (in the 100 free).”

Even so, Markillie prefers long distances to the sprints.

“To me, they’re not really a race,” said Markillie, who has qualified for the 3A state meet in the 500 free. “They’re not long enough to be a race.”

He knows his opinion might not be shared by a lot of swimmers.

“I’m that one weird person that loves the mile,” Markillie said. “You don’t find those people very often.”

This story was originally published January 21, 2016 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Boys swim notes: Richland’s Westendorf eyes more state cuts."