ORONO — With 25 yards to go in the 100 breast stroke, Genevieve Worthley of Deering noticed Messalonskee freshman Kristy Prelgovisk a hair ahead of her and got excited.

“I looked over on my last turn and thought, ‘this is going to be awesome,’ ” Worthley said. “I’m always up for a good race.”

Worthley swam a couple of good races, defending titles in the 200 individual medley and the breast stroke at the Class A girls’ swimming and diving championships Monday night at the University of Maine.

Worthley was named the most valuable performer at the meet. She was one of the three double-winners, with Jessica Russell of Brunswick (500 freestyle, 100 back stroke) and Celia Ouellette of Mt. Ararat (50 and 100 freestyle).

Bangor cruised to its second consecutive team title and fourth in six years, with 319 points. Messalonskee was second with 277, followed by Cape Elizabeth (234) and Deering (165).

“We did a fantastic job. The kids came so far this year,” Messalonskee Coach Tom Sheridan said. “A lot of solid efforts all around. Bangor just had such a big lead on us.”

Lindsey Prelgovisk paced the Eagles with a first in the 200 free (1:55.98), a third in the 100 back stroke and anchoring the winning 400 free relay.

In that 200 free, Sam Briggs (sixth) and Ally Fischang (eighth) also placed in the top eight to put Messalonskee in first place after two events.

That lead held until the fifth event, diving. Messalonskee didn’t have a diver, Bangor placed three, then pulled away.

Tori Leonard of Kennebunk won the diving with 305.25 points.

Emma Waddell of Bangor was the other individual winner, taking the 100 butterfly in 57.32.

In the 200 IM, Worthley took the lead after the breast stroke but Waddell closed after the butterfly. Worthley held her off in the freestyle, winning in 2:09.03 to Waddell’s 2:09.54.

“She really lets things drive her,” Deering Coach Angie Chessey said.

Worthley won her third straight breast stroke title, breaking her own state record with a time of 1:04.97. Prelgovisk was right behind in 1:05.25.

“You always find a way when you have a good competitor,” Worthley said. “In training, coaches are always saying ‘it burns but it’s worth it.’ And that’s what they’re talking about.”

Speaking of burning, Brunswick’s Russell did the difficult double of swimming the 500 free and 100 back with only one event between them. Even though Russell was well ahead in the 500, she didn’t ease up and won by 16 seconds (5:06.90).

“I could have (let up), but I felt good and I wanted to go for it,” said Russell, who then was surprised to be back on the starting blocks so soon, after the 200 free relay was raced.

“There was less time in between than I thought,” Russell said.

Still, she held off Hannah Homans of Cape Elizabeth by a second in the back stroke, in 58.67.

Russell felt so good that after another race, she was back on the blocks, starting the Dragons’ 400 free relay, which tied for fourth.

Ouellette of Mt. Ararat was a flash in the water, winning the 50 free by almost a full second, 24.33 to Prelgovisk’s 25.29. Elaine Miller of Windham was third (25.30).

Ouellette then won the 100 free in 53.84, ahead of Victoria Weber of Cony (54.01).

Bangor won the first two relays but Messalonskee, with Sammy Mathieu, Amanda Joy, Briggs and Lindsey Prelgovisk, won the 400 free relay in 3:47.27.

Cape’s 200 medley relay team of Homans, Heather Kraft, Gabrielle Cloutier and Caroline Herriman finished second in 1:53.11. That broke the meet record, but so did Bangor’s winning time of 1:51.62.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:
kthomas@pressherald.com
Twitter: KevinThomasPPH

 

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