Photo by Jon Fleming
Photo by Brian Hoffman
The SwimRVA facility in Richmond will be site of Virginia High School League state swim meets this week and both James River and Lord Botetourt students will be competing. The Class 1 and 2 meets, including James River, will be held today, Wednesday, and the Class 3 meet with LB swimmers is scheduled for Thursday.
Lord Botetourt swimmers qualified for the state in the Region 3D meet at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center on Feb. 9. The Cavaliers qualified four individuals and a relay for the state Class 3 meet.
James River swimmers competed in the Class 2 meet last week at the Hargrave Military Academy pool in Chatham. All the River boys and girls qualified for the state and the River girls were Region 2C runners-up.
“I was absolutely shocked to be region runner-up with only five swimmers,” said River coach Kit Williams.
River’s Riley Persinger is the region champion in both the 100 Free and 100 Backstroke. Kim Van Auken won the 200 IM and 100 Breaststroke and Sarah Lorman took a second in the 50 Free. The girls 200 medley relay and the 200 free relay made up of Lydia Jones, Lorman, Van Auken and Persinger also won region championships.
Photo courtesy of JR Swimming
The River boys took fourth as a team as Joel Barber won both the 200 IM and 100 Breast. Austin Myers was third in the 200 Free and 100 Back while Kingston Bean took a third in the 50 Free. Harrison Hanna was fifth in the 200 Free.
“This is the first time in school history all of our swimmers have qualified for states,” said Williams. “I am so very proud of our small but mighty team.”
