Outlaws swimmers succeed in Bend

Outlaws swimmers took on some 4A competition on Saturday, February 5, in the Central Oregon JV District Championships at Juniper Aquatic and Fitness Center.

The swimmers were allowed to participate in two individual and two relay events. However, scores were eliminated for those Outlaw swimmers and relays that are expected to finish in the finals during the upcoming 3A District Championships in Woodburn.

Hilary Hedemark swam exhibition-only in the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay.

Mountain View won the boys' competition (317) ahead of Redmond (169), Sisters (166) and Bend (28).

On the girls' side, Bend dominated with 418 points ahead of Mountain View (240), Redmond (217) and Sisters (168).

Chelsea Durdan-Shaw led the Outlaws in the 200-yard medley relay with a fast 50-yard backstroke leg, followed by Dana Hughie in the breaststroke, Hilary Hedemark in the butterfly and Chelsea Meudt as anchor.

All four girls recorded season-best splits and finished first with a combined time of 2:14.28. The Outlaws girls also won the 200-yard freestyle relay with lead swimmer Chelsea Meudt (30.9), Jamie Cundiff (31.7), Chelsea Durdan-Shaw (28.7) and anchor Hilary Hedemark (27.9) recording a combined best time of 1:59.52.

Hilary Hedemark swam the fastest times in the 200-yard individual medley (2:25.78) and the 100-yard backstroke (1:05.93) (exhibition only).

Official first places for the Outlaws included the 50-yard freestyle by Jamie Cundiff (31.06) and Nick Patterson (26.27), Chelsea Durdan-Shaw's 100-yard freestyle (1:05.80) and 100-yard backstroke (1:15.24) and Dana Hughie's 100-yard breaststroke (1:30.15)

Other scoring swimmers for the Outlaws included a third place for the medley relay team with Eli Pyke (backstroke 37.1), Luke Seile (breaststroke 43.2), Nick Patterson (butterfly 31.4) and Kevin Carlsmith (freestyle 27.2); a second place for the boys' freestyle relay (Patterson 25.9, Comfort 29.7, Carlsmith 27.7 and Pyke 27.8).

Heidi Whipps finished second in the 50-yard freestyle and sixth in the 100-yard freestyle, Chelsea Meudt fourth in the 50-yard freestyle and third in the 100-yard breaststroke, Dana Hughie fourth in the 100-yard freestyle.

Eli Pyke came in third and Travis Comfort sixth in the 50-yard freestyle. Kevin Carlsmith placed third, Eli Pyke fourth and Matt Ehrenstrom sixth in the 100-yard freestyle.

In the 100-yard backstroke, Kevin Carlsmith finished third, Travis Comfort fourth and Adam Guggenheim fifth.

District championships will be held Friday and Saturday, February 11-12, at the Woodburn Pool. The facility is located off Front Street on Oak and First and competition starts with warm-ups at 4 p.m. on both days. Preliminary heats and finals are scheduled for 5 p.m. on both days.