Outlaws swimmers sweep district relays

The foursome of Michelle Young, Tia Berg, Katie Stewart and Courteney Satko raced to three first places at the District 3 Swimming Championships in Albany on February 12-13.

Leading the medley "A" relay with a 29.33-second backstroke leg, Michelle Young got the group off to a great start, followed by Tia Berg in a PR of 37.14 in the breaststroke, Katie Stewart in a 30.61 butterfly and senior anchor, Courteney Satko, in a 25.89 freestyle leg.

The same relay also swept the 200-yard freestyle relay by almost a second over powerhouse Cascade. The Outlaws put everything into the race and came up with several personal bests during the swim. Michelle Young led with a 26.63, followed by Tia Berg (28.02), Katie Stewart (27.42) and Courteney Satko (25.62). The final time of 1:47.69 came within a fingernail's reach of the old Sisters High School record of 1:47.46.

The last relay of the day, the 400-yard freestyle relay was the biggest improvement for the same girls. Young (58.34), Berg (1:03.30), Stewart (1:01.12) and Satko (56.53) had broken their high school record already twice before in this season and topped it off with best personal splits all around.

All Outlaws "B" relays finished in the top of consolation finals (7-12th place). Hillary Johnson (36.5), Peggy Barrett (44.2), Cierra Tigard (37.0) and Samantha Williamson (29.25) were 8th in the 200-yard medley relay. The fifth fastest time (1:59.69) in the 200-yard relay went to Samantha Williamson (29.87), Peggy Barrett (31.54) , Karah Herr (29.33)and Hillary Johnson (28.95) and winner of consolation finals in the 400-yard freestyle were Samantha Williamson (1:05.01), Peggy Barrett (1:13.02), Cierra Tigard (1:13.02) and Hillary Johnson (1:04.98).

Courteney Satko added another first-place finish to the medal collection with a great swim in the 50-yard freestyle (26.00, matching her state prelim time in 2009), Michelle Young was third in the 100-yard backstroke (1:06.28), and Tia Berg outtouched three of her closest competitors in the 100-yard freestyle (PR 1:03.11) race in championship finals.

Cascade's Shelby Lundin (1:03.71) was fourth and Stayton's Emma Englehart (1:03.83) fifth.

Hillary Johnson (PR 1:03.11), also entered in the same event, was the winner of consolation finals and tied Tia Berg.

Samantha Williamson (PR 1:04.23) finished second in consols.

District rules prohibit moving from consolation finals to championship finals even if the times in consolations are faster than championship finals.

Other consolation final swims by the girls were 10th place by Clare Greaney in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:37.68) and 11th place by Harley Bowler (1:38.19) as well as 12th place in the 200-yard freestyle by Geneieve Mackenzie (2:54.50).

All first-place finishers advance automatically to State Championships in Gresham, February 19-20 at the Mt. Hood Community College Aquatic Center. Additional competitors are chosen by the next fastest times from all four district championships that were held this past weekend.

Michelle Young, Tia Berg, Katie Stewart and Courteney Satko will be swimming in the 200-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay. Courteney Satko will also compete in the 50-yard freestyle event and Michelle Young in the 100-yard backstroke individually. Hillary Johnson, Cierra Tigard and Samantha Williamson will join as alternates.