Hammer takes 100-free title at state; Kangs place second in team standings

By Andy Nystrom • November 17, 2019 6:30 pm
Hammer takes 100-free title at state; Kangs place second in team standings

Lake Washington’s Amelia Hammer won the 100-yard freestyle state 3A title in 50.93 on Nov. 16 at the King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way.

With 12 top-eight finishes, the Kangs placed second with 263 points behind winner Bellevue with 303 points.

“I am very excited about my 50 and 100 swims. I had some goals for this meet and I achieved all of them. Also I’m so lucky to be surrounded by such a supportive and fun team. They inspire me and motivate me to do my best,” Hammer said.

Second-placers for LW were the 200-yard medley relay of Katie Cross, Brie Yeh, Jade Foltenyi and Hammer (1:45.40); Hammer in the 50-yard freestyle (23.68); and the 400-yard freestyle relay of Courtney Cross, Katie Cross, Foltenyi and Hammer (3:29.91).

Courtney Cross finished third in the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.82) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:02.01).

Taking fourth were Yeh in the 100-yard butterfly (57.75); and the 200-yard freestyle relay of Yeh, Charlotte Conze, Abby Neilson and Courtney Cross (1:39.61).

Katie Cross took fifth in the 100-yard backstroke (57.34) and 200-yard individual medley (2:08.70), and Yeh snagged fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.22).

Foltenyi took eighth in the 100 fly (58.06), and LW had divers take 11th (Sydney Rabuchin), 12th (Maddie Brewer) and 14th (Peyton Yoshida).

“I’m so proud of our whole team. We worked very hard all year long and it really paid off in the postseason,” said LW head coach Dave Hale. “We have a close group of girls on our team this year led by our seniors at state. Our captains this year Katie Wehrman, Katie Cross and Anika Amdahl were like assistant coaches all season long and were amazing at setting the right atmosphere for the entire team.”

LW’s second-place team finish was the highest in Kang history since they moved to 3A. Other notable achievements were the Kangs being the only team to place swimmers in the top eight in every event; LW set six new school records over the two days; and LW notched All-American consideration times in two individual events and two relays.