Central swimmers fail to advance

Southeast Missourian

ST. PETERS, Mo. -- The Central swimming team's three entries in the MSHSAA state meet failed to advance through Friday's preliminaries and qualify for today's finals at the St. Peters Rec-Plex.

The meet was a farewell event for senior Cassie Kipper and good experience for sophomore Hannah Lewis and freshmen Hannah Kinder and Callie Hoffman.

Kipper swam in the 200 individual medley, finishing 27th in 2 minutes 27.85 seconds. The top 16 finishers moved on to the finals.

She teamed with Lewis, Kinder and Hoffman in two relay events. The 200 free relay team finished 23rd among 33 entries in 1:49.41, and the 400 free relay finished 29th in 4:07.47.

"I thought we might be able to swim in the 200 free relay finals," Central coach Dayna Powell said, "but we had our best time at the conference, and we just didn't have it here.

"Next year, I'd like to reach the final. It won't be easy without Cassie."