MC swimmers eye district meet

The Madison County Mountaineer swim team hosted a Jan. 14 meet at Manassas Park, where it competed with George Mason and Strasburg. Overall, the girls scores were George Mason, 63, and Madison, 30, and vs. Strasburg, 51, and Madison, 42. The boys swim team scores were George Mason, 78, and Madison, 15, and vs. Strasburg, 45, and Madison, 40.

Notable first places finishes include Madison’s own Kara Morgan McHaney, who swam the 200-yard individual medley in 2:22.65 and the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:34.47, which qualified her for the state championship. In the 400-yard free relay, Kara Morgan McHaney, Suzi Windland, Christine Mullen and Graceanne Chada won first place with a time of 4.33.37.

Notable second place finishes include the girls 200- yard medley relay with the team of Christine Mullen, Kara Omer, Kara Morgan McHaney and Graceanne Chada with a time of 2:15.37.

Christine Mullen also placed second in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:15.86. Additionally, Christine Mullen placed second in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:16.97 and Graceanne Chada placed second in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 1:06.25.

Notable second place finishes for the boys included Drew Kelliher in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 53.89, barely being out-touched by Nick Roberson from George Mason with a time of 53.12; a .77 second difference. Kelliher also placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:15.34.

“This was the first meet that Madison County High School has hosted and overall the meet went really well,” Madison Head Swim Coach Helen Dixon said. “Kara Morgan swam to her second qualifying time in the 500 free with the next competitor almost a minute behind her. Drew (Kelliher) swam two great races -- especially in the 100-yard breaststroke as this is his weakest swimming stroke.

“Graceanne Chada has done remarkably well all season, dropping time each meet. Christine Mullen has also swum some great races this season and we look forward to some fantastic swims to move these swimmers forward from the districts to the regionals.

Coach Dixon also noted that George Mason hosts an impressive team of around 80 swimmers, so it is difficult to compete on their level with Madison’s 26 swimmers.

The Jan. 17 Fork Union Military Academy swim meet with Fluvanna, Louisa and Orange used a short course meter pool; thus the times are a little higher. The girls scores were Fluvanna, 60, and Madison, 21, with Louisa, 7, and Orange, 6. The boys scores were Orange, 45, Fluvanna, 40, Madison, 7, and Louisa, 2. Madison did very well, considering Fluvanna and Louisa are both AA schools and Orange is a AAA school.

First place finishes were again lead by Kara Morgan McHaney with a 200-meter freestyle time of 2:20.91 and a 100-meter butterfly time of 1:10.97. Second place finishes consisted of Drew Kelliher swimming the 100-meter butterfly in 1:07.21, Graceanne Chada with a 100-meter butterfly time of 1:27.78, Christine Mullen with a 400-meter freestyle time of 6:30.89 and Johnny Mullen with a 100-meter backstroke time of 1:20.29. The girls 400-meter freestyle relay team made up of Kara Morgan McHaney, Danielle Scott, Christine Mullen and Graceanne Chada also placed second with a time of 5:05.21.

“This was a unique meet as it was our first meet in a 25-meter pool and in a quad meet format,” Dixon said. “This was kind of a last chance meet, meaning, as our last in season meet (non-district) had some MCHS swimmers entering new events for the challenge and experience. Sam Young and Marcus Divers swam the 400-meter freestyle (similar to our usual 500-yard freestyle), Kara Omer swam the 100-meter backstroke and Morgan Brock competed in the 200-meter IM.”

The upcoming district meet is set for this Saturday at Manassas Park. The top eight swimmers in each event and top four relays from each event move on to qualify for the regional meet on Feb. 4 at Manassas Park. The top four individual swimmers per event and top two relays will advance from regionals to the Feb. 9-11 A/AA state meet in Christiansburg.

Coach Dixon said she hopes that eight-12 swimmers will advance from districts to regionals.

Coach Dixon said, “Swimmers have learned a lot, have continued to work well as a team and have shown true sportsmanship during every meet.”