Fossil Ridge breaks national and state records en route to 5A girls swimming title
FORT COLLINS — Fossil Ridge started the Class 5A girls swimming state championships with a national record. They ended it by scoring the most team points in state history.
It was about as dominant championship performance as the state has seen across any sport — and gave the squad its second-consecutive team title.
“The girls, we knew they were capable, and they’ve been waiting for this since last year’s state meet,” said Fossil Ridge coach Carolyn Fries. “They were ready to go.”
The SaberCats kicked off the day by eclipsing the national high school record in the 200 medley relay. Bayley Stewart, Zoe Bartel, Coleen Gillilan and Kylee Alons combined for the time of 1:38.13
That mark broke the 1:38.77 figure set just a day earlier by Harpeth Hall, a school in Tennessee. It also marked the fourth consecutive season that Fossil Ridge had won the 200 medley relay.
“They saw that team break it last night, and that just fueled them today,” Fries said. “It’s been a goal since last year. It was the same medley relay last year, and they just missed it.”
Nearly three hours later, Fossil Ridge set a record in the 200 freestyle relay, finishing 1:34.15. The old record was 1:34.40, set by Cherry Creek in 2011.
The SaberCats nearly set another record in the 400 freestyle relay, going 3:22.53. The record was set in 2011 by a Missy Franklin-led Regis Jesuit squad at 3:22.42.
By the time the meet ended on Saturday night, Fossil Ridge had won seven of the eight individual events, and all three relay races. Combined with impressive depth, the SaberCats finished with 424 points, breaking the state record of 399 by Cherry Creek in 2010.
“We have very, very talented girls, we have great leadership,” Fries said. “They had the motivation, we have really good team culture, and I think that’s what drives their performance.”
Gillilan (100 butterfly, 200 freestyle), Bartel (200 IM, 100 breaststroke) and Alons (50 free, 100 free) each won two events. Stewart won the 100 backstroke, and was third in the 200 IM.
For Bartel and Alons, it was the second-consecutive year they’d each won those events, while Gillilan repeated in the butterfly.
Chatfield freshman Kathryn Shanley had an outstanding meet with a win in the 500 freestyle, and a second-place finish in the 200. Shanley won with a time of 5:02.44 in the 500, beating fellow freshman and training partner Melinda Johnson of Dakota Ridge (5:07.72).
“It’s pretty surreal, it’s a pretty exciting moment,” Shanley said. “It was really fun. I looked up at the clock and saw I got first, and it was just really exciting. I’m really proud to be part of Chatfield and represent Chatfield in that way.”
Franny Cable wins diving championship
Arapahoe junior Franny Cable captured the 5A diving championship with a total score of 531.45.
Cable, who was second last year, beat out runner-up Samantha Tamborski of Douglas County (499.10), and Anna Kemper of Lewis-Palmer (474.75).
“I’m just in complete shock,” Cable said shortly after she won. “I was just coming in hoping to do my best. I wanted to be in the top 3, but I’ve always dreamed of being the (champion).”
