Superior’s Heinen qualifies for state swim meet

Superior High School freshman Kaitlin Heinen qualified for the Wisconsin Division 1 high school girls swim meet Saturday by placing third in the 500-yard freestyle in a school-record 5 minutes, 19.30 seconds in the Hudson Sectional.

Heinen also set a school record in placing fourth in the 200 freestyle in 1:59.55.

“This year Kaitlin improved more than 5 seconds in the 200 free and 26 seconds in the 500 as a result of consistent hard work,” SHS coach George Lehman said. “She made all the extra team morning practices and kept a positive attitude throughout each workout.”

The Spartans also set two school relay records with Grace Elonen, Kelsey Hansen, Tori Johnson and Heinen. They were fifth in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:43.61 and 400 freestyle relay in 3:50.85.

The 200 record stood since 2002 and was held by Ilee Smith, Stacey Edgette, Megan Mahan and Tricia Nye. The 400 record was set in 2000 by Sara Dickenson, Jen Dahl, Nye and Amanda Moran.

Both relays placed fifth in a tough sectional Saturday with Superior just missing the state meet cut time in the 200.

In one-meter diving, Superior’s Karrigan Grimstad was eighth with 256.50 points.

Spartans who scored also included Kacie Heinen, Kaitlin Sanders, Elonen and Hansen in the medley relay; Madelyn Swanson and Katelyn Mergen in diving; Elonen and Johnson in the 50 free; Kelsey Hansen in the 100; Johnson in the 100 backstroke; as well as Kaitlin Sanders and Nikki Hansen in the 100 breaststroke.

The Spartans placed seventh among 13 teams, three places and 50 points ahead of last year.

The Division 1 championships are Saturday at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium in Madison. Heinen’s swim at state is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday.

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