Owensboro and Daviess County swimming grabbed top-five finishes and had multiple individuals qualify for state at the Region 2 Swim Meet thanks to strong performances from its mens and women’s teams.
The Red Devils were led by Paige Neal in the women’s events, as she grabbed first place in the 50-Yard Freestyle and 100-Yard Freestyle with times of 24.74 and 53.58 respectively. Abby Warren also qualified for state by following close behind in the 50-Yard Freestyle in fifth place (25.21), while earning second place in the 100 Breaststroke with a time of 1:10.14.
Neal, Warren, Whitney Ford and Lucy Whitaker helped lead Owensboro to second in the 200 Freestyle Relay with a time of 1:49.36, while the Red Devils also grabbed fifth in the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 2:03.82.
Their efforts helped the Red Devils place fifth in the women’s category with a total score of 167, finishing behind Bowling Green, South Warren and Greenwood.
Owensboro didn’t place in the men’s category, but had eighth grader Miller Bowman qualify for state by finishing fourth in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 55.09. His efforts helped Owensboro finish fifth with a combined score of 281.
Daviess County finished fourth in the women’s category with a total score of 195, getting standout performances from Ella Johnson.
Johnson finished second in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 58.94, while Johnson, Kaydeon Mattingly, Avery Krahwinkle, Nya Hammons placed second in the 400 Freestyle Relay (3:57.52).
In the men’s category placed third with a score of 215, getting big wins from Trevor Church who placed first in 100 Breastroke (1:02.55) and second in 50-Yard Freestyle (21.99). Daviess County’s efforts put them in third overall with a combined score of 410, while also helping Head Coach Jordan Loucks earn the title of Region 2 Coach of the Year.
State participants will be finalized on Wednesday, as the state meet is set for the boys on Feb. 18 and the girls on Feb. 19.
