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CSML swimming: 4A title comes down to the wire as Air Academy holds off Cheyenne Mtn.
As if Ian Clarke’s day couldn’t have gotten any better. At the conclusion of the CSML meet, the Rampart senior was named 5A Swimmer of the Year, a nice highlight to the three-year state qualifier whose high school career will end at the 5A state meet next weekend.
“It’s hard to believe this is my last year,” Clarke said. “It’s gone by fast.”
Cheyenne Mountain’s Jonathan Littles, who won the 100 freestyle after narrowly missing out in the 50 free — Coronado’s Danny Kay won by .11 seconds — was named 4A Swimmer of the Year.
Pine Creek’s Shane Guerin and Wasson’s Isaac Ricks earned 5A and 4A Diver of the Year honors, respectively.
If the 4A boys’ swimming competition at the Colorado Springs Metro League meet were a vote, there would have been a recount.
That describes the razor-thin distance between Air Academy, host Cheyenne Mountain and third-party contender Coronado.
When the computers tallied the final numbers Saturday, Air Academy amassed 600 points, a mere 191/2 ahead of Cheyenne Mountain. Coronado finished third with 5111/2.
With 24 swimmers scoring points during Saturday’s final races, it’s almost incomprehensible to find the details that ultimately made the difference between first and second.
“It’s a ninth-place finish that could have been a sixth,” Indians coach Kate Doane said. “It was fantastic competition. Each guy respects everybody.”
In 5A, Lewis-Palmer defended its Metro League title by scoring 663 points. Rampart finished a distant second at 438 as Rams senior Ian Clarke set a meet and pool record in the 200-yard individual medley and captured the 500 free title.
Air Academy junior Devon Davis also won titles in two events, claiming the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke.
“Last year, we came in second to Cheyenne, and the team did amazing today,” Davis said. “It feels great to finally pass them.”
Cheyenne Mountain’s Jonathan Littles, won the 100 freestyle after narrowly missing out in the 50 free — Coronado’s Danny Kay won by 0.11 seconds.
Cheyenne Mountain’s 200 medley relay team started the day by breaking the pool and meet record. Later, Indians swimmer Grant James set a pool mark in the 100 backstroke, and Coronado’s 200 free relay team set a pool mark.
Lewis-Palmer’s Michael Havenar claimed the title in the 200 freestyle then, after Clarke’s triumph in the 200 IM and Kay’s victory in the 50 free, Davis reigned supreme in the 100 butterfly.
Then, Littles took first in the 100 freestyle.
So, by the end of the sixth swimming event, athletes from five different schools stood highest on the podium, a sheer contrast to the day when the city was ruled by one, or maybe two, swimming empires. And the three relay events were won by three schools, also a change from the past.
“Now, it’s completely spread out,” Clarke said. “The competition from club and within schools is crazy.”
Longtime Coronado coach Bob Bell added: “Not only did we have a good meet, but this was the fastest overall meet I’ve seen. We had guys in 15th, 16th place that easily could have been top five a few years ago. The swimmers in this town area really good, top to bottom. It’s a fun time to be part of this.”
RESULTS
CSML Championship
At Cheyenne Mountain
5A—Lewis-Palmer 663, Rampart 438, Pine Creek 335.5, Liberty 299.5, Doherty 173, Palmer 131, Fountain-Fort-Carson 114.5,
4A—Air Academy 600, Cheyenne Mountain 580.5, Coronado 511.5, Discovery Canyon 439.5, Wasson 103, Harrison 56.
200 medley relay—1. Cheyenne Mountain (B. Anderson, C. Dickerson, J. Grant, J. Littles) 1:38.14, 2. Lewis-Palmer 1:38.34, 3. Air Academy 1:39.66, 4. Pine Creek 1:43.72, 5. Coronado 1:44.11.
200 freestyle—1. M. Havenar (LP) 1:48.29, 2. H. Bains (LP) 1:48.80, 3. B. Mays (AA) 1:51.55, 4. D. Deysher (LP) 1:52.04, 5. B. Rossmanith (COR) 1:52.83.
200 individual medley—1. I. Clarke (RAM) 1:54.81, 2. R. Arata (LP) 1:55.62, 3. J. Dearden (AA) 1:59.85, 4. C. Bains (LP) 2:03.88, 5. C. Holmes (PC) 2:05.01.
50 free—1. D. Kay (COR) 21.89, 2. J. Little (CM) 22.00, 3. S. Peek (COR) 22.21, 4. H. Doerr (AA) 22.48, 5, (tie) L. Roberts (DC), E. Albers (COR) 22.52.
Diving—1. Z. Mullins (LP) 376.65, 2. M. Perry (LP) 376.35, 3. L. Hansen (AA) 361.05, 4. J. Purdham (LP) 358.50, 5. C. Robinson (CM) 355.20.
100 butterfly—1. D. Davis (AA) 51.85, 2. J. Grant (CM) 52.69, 3. J. Frank (PC) 53.55, 4. C. Cox (LP) 54.68, 5. T. Hand (DC) 55.25.
100 free—1. J. Littles (CM) 47.72, 2. R. Arata (LP) 47.79, 3. D. Kay (COR) 48.58, 4. H. Bains (LP) 50.04, 5. S. Peek (COR) 50.21.
500 free—1. I. Clarke (RAM) 4:48.03, 2. M. Havenar (LP) 4:55.59, 3. B. Mays (AA) 4:57.78, 4. D. Deysher (LP) 4:58.74, 5. B. Rossmanith (COR) 5:08.96.
200 free relay— 1. Coronado (S. Peek, K. Allison, E. Albers, D. Kay) 1:28.02, 2. Air Academy 1:28.88, 3. Rampart 1:31.97, 4. Discovery Canyon 1:32.86, 5. Lewis-Palmer 1:32.93.
100 backstroke—1. J. Grant (CM) 53.61, 2. J. Dearden (AA) 54.00, 3. T. Hand (DC) 56.45, 4. T. Reitwiesner (COR) 57.08, 5. B. Anderson (CM) 57.47.
100 breaststroke—1. D. Davis (AA) 59.43, 2. C. Dickerson (CM) 1:01.86, 3. J. Frank (PC) 1:03.08, 4. K. Allison (COR) 1:03.12, 5. C. Shollenbarger (AA) 1:03.38.
400 free relay— 1. Lewis-Palmer (M. Carlson, M. Havenar, H. Bains, R. Arata) 3:16.50, 2. Coronado 3:17.44, 3. Cheyenne Mountain 3:19.63, 4. Discovery Canyon 3:21.43, 5. Rampart 3:21.75.
