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Moffat County swimmers pool their talents for new bests in Delta

From left, Moffat County High School swimmers Kelsey McDiffett, Alexa Neton and Allison Jacobson hang off the MCHS pool's diving board. Bulldog swimmers won six races and placed second overall in Delta.
Andy Bockelman

Moffat County High School girls swimming continued to shrink their times at their latest meet while coming ever closer to punching their tickets to the state finals.

MCHS placed second during a Saturday triangular meet between Montezuma-Cortez and hosting Delta. The Panthers had the overall win thanks to greater numbers, but the Bulldogs won six races compared to Delta’s five.

The Moffat County foursome of Molly Neton, Alexa Neton, Katelynn Turner and Kelsey McDiffett not only won the 200-yard freestyle relay but also reached their fastest time yet at 1:58.31 to come closer to the 3A state time of 1:56. The quartet also earned second in the 200 medley at 2:17.81, their quickest yet in a non-metric pool.

Molly Neton also edged closer to state in the 100 backstroke with a personal and team season best of 1:10.45, as well as a best in the 100 free at 1:04.23, winning each in Delta. Alexa Neton was fourth, Alyssa Chavez fifth and Sammi Beaver ninth in the backstroke. Turner closely followed Molly in the 100 free at second, with Meeker’s Jeni Kincher fourth.

McDiffett was uncontested in the 100 butterfly, hitting a time of 1:15.34, as well as placing second in the 200 individual medley with a team season best of 2:37.59. Ellina Jones and Jade Holman each notched new personal bests in the IM to place third and fourth.

Alexa Neton likewise won the 200 free, while Jaycee Holman took the win in the 500 free.

Turner led the team in the 50 free, taking third, Kincher fifth, Jade Holman 13th, Beaver 14th and Carson Flint 15th.

Tayla Siminoe had the top MCHS finish in the 100 breaststroke with the bronze, while Jones was fifth.

Moffat County girls will compete in the coming weekend at Southwestern Conference League Championships, the final opportunity to qualify for state.

Coach Meghan Francone said the taper portion of the schedule has begun to ensure the strongest possible performance.

“We keep our intensity the same and decrease the amount and increase the rest on the wall,” she said.

During practices, Francone and fellow coach Melany Neton kickboards propped up kickboards on chairs at the end of each lane so swimmers could view a list of the steps in their workouts in between laps.

“They’ll be physically and mentally prepared for this meet,” Francone said. “They’re excited, and some of them perform best under pressure, so I’m excited to see what they can do.”


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