The Free Press, Mankato, MN

High School Sports

November 22, 2009

St. Peter’s Kamm finished third

Sophomore turns in All-American time in 50 freestyle

By Jim Rueda

MINNEAPOLIS — St. Peter sophomore Kaitlin Kamm said she was focused before her 50-yard freestyle race in Saturday’s Class A state swim finals. Just how focused surprised even her.

Kamm turned in a time of 23.80 at the U of M Aquatic Center to place third overall. The effort was a personal best, set a St. Peter school record, and qualified her automatically for All-America honors.

“After (Friday) I didn’t know what to expect,” Kamm said afterward. “I felt good warming up and before the race.

“I had a good start and I hit my turn pretty well. I feel pretty good about it.”

Kamm also swam well in the 100-freestyle, cutting more than a second off her prelim time to finish ninth in 53.75. Her time would have been good enough for seventh place in the top-eight finals.

Kamm said the third-place state finish justifies all the hours she spends in the pool.

“I swim three seasons,” she said. “This definitely makes it worth it.

“I swim with the Mankato Mantas during the spring and summer. That helps me a lot.”

Kamm was one of three St. Peter swimmers/divers in Saturday’s championship finals. The others were Alissa Lager in the 1-meter dive and Ashley Lager in the 100-yard backstroke.

Alissa Lager, a junior, moved up from eighth place after the opening day to fourth overall with 348.25 points. It was remarkable finish considering she was 20th after the first five dives of the meet.

“Don’t ask me how I can go from 20th to fourth because I don’t know,” Lager said. “I hit my first dive pretty well (Saturday) and that gave me confidence for the rest of them. It’s nice to finish fourth.”

Lager was sixth in last year’s Class A meet.

Her younger sister, Ashley Lager, also improved Saturday in the 100-backstroke. She cut a second off her time and moved up one place to finish seventh overall in 1:00.72.

The Saints shaved a little time in the 200-free relay as well. Ashley Lager, Raunatta Hill, Carolyn Conlon and Kamm recorded a 1:41.67 to place 11th in the state.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
High School Sports