Penrose nets two top-fives; bulk of swimmers return

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

FEDERAL WAY Peninsula sophomore Casey Penrose earned two top-five finishes to lead the Seahawks’ swimming and diving team to 15th on Saturday during the Class 3A state finals at the King County Aquatic Center.

Three individuals and two Peninsula relays qualified from Friday’s preliminary races.

The Seahawks scored 69 team points. Mercer Island (246.5) edged Juanita (242) for the team championship.

Penrose had Peninsula’s most impressive performance. She placed third in the 200-yard individual medley with a lifetime-best time of 2 minutes, 9.49 seconds.

“It was a great race,” she said. “It was a better finish than last year.”

Penrose was the fifth seed going into the championship race and improved her prelim time by more than a half-second.

“I was in the right mindset and really focusing on my race,” Penrose said. “I’m definitely looking forward to moving up next year.”

Later on, she placed fifth in the 500 free in 5:15.28. Individually, she earned 30 points — nearly half the Seahawks’ total.

Peninsula’s 400-yard relay team, which consisted of senior Alix Frank, freshman Chloe Skidmore, junior Kellie Blauvelt and Penrose, placed third in the consolation finals in a season-best 3:50.88.

They shaved about three seconds off their preliminary time as the eighth seed.

Blauvelt said rearranging the order of the relay team was a key to dropping time.

“I think what counted most was our relays,” Blauvelt said. “We came back and swam strong today.”

In the 100 breaststroke, Blauvelt qualified to the finals in 1:10.25. She wound up seventh in 1:10.46.

“I don’t think I did that great, but it was still fun and competitive,” Blauvelt said.

Peninsula diver Libby Fogel placed 12th in her first state meet with 244.90 points. Her back somersault with a half twist was her best dive of the competition.

Peninsula diving coach Liz Litsch said Fogel held her performance together pretty well.

Last year, the Seahawks placed seventh behind senior Linsey Marchand, who won two individual state championships.

Peninsula coach Craig Brown said the team is getting faster, but they’re not quite there yet.

“It’s just that we didn’t have enough bodies to make an impact on the team score,” Brown said.

The Seahawks will return each of this year’s state competitors except for Frank, who competed with the 400 relay team.

Peninsula results

Sophomore Casey Penrose: Third in the 200-yard individual medley with a lifetime-best 2 minutes, 9.49 seconds; fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:15.28).

Junior Kellie Blauvelt: Seventh in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.46).

Sophomore diver Libby Fogel: 12th with 244.90 points.

400 relay team: Senior Alix Frank, freshman Chloe Skidmore, Blauvelt and Penrose, 11th (3:50.88).