TOPEKA — Great Bend High School senior Hannah Hildebrand led the swim team at the Class 5-1A State Swim Meet on Friday and Saturday.
Hildebrand, who was a second-team All-State selection, placed fifth in the 100 freestyle (55.63) and eighth in the 200 individual medley (2:19.42).
“Hannah, this is her second straight year in a row to make the second team All-State,” GBHS head coach Steve Beaumont said. “She swam her personal-best times in each of her individual events.
“I think those times put her as No. 2 in school history in those events, as well.”
Great Bend finished in 17th place with 54 points. Blue Valley Southwest won the team competition with 208 points.
“Overall, it was a good state meet for us,” Beaumont said. “We had a couple of races we wish we could do over, but that’s always going to happen. That’s the nature of the competition.
“The kids swam well.”
Kira Cook was the other individual to make it in the top 16 in the preliminary heat to advance to Saturday’s competition.
Cook placed 13th in the 100 freestyle (59.57) and 16th in the 200 freestyle (2:14.52).
“Kira Cook swam in the consolation heat in both of her events,” Beaumont said. “As a freshman, I think that says something about her talent.”
Cook and Hildebrand joined Katy Jerke and Kylee Spray to finish in 11th place in the 400 freestyle (4:03.35).
Cook, Hildebrand, Jerke and Michaela Cape combined to finish 11th in the 200 freestyle relay (1:49.21).

                                                                                                  — Kevin Price

HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING
Class 5A State Meet

GIRLS

Friday-Saturday

At Topeka

Team scores

Great Bend results
1. Blue Valley Southwest, 208; 2. Maize South, 176; 3. Wichita Heights, 172; 4. Aquinas, 171; 5. Emporia, 162; 6. Wichita Trinity, 149; 7. Carroll, 141; 8. Newton, 124; 9. Andover, 100; 10. Salina Central, 94; 11. Hayden, 86; 12. Topeka West, 80; 13. Seabury, 76; 14. Winfield, 68; 15. Miege, 59; 16. St. James Academy, 55; 17. Great Bend, 54; 18. Shawnee Heights, 43; 19. KC Turner, 30; 20. Andover Central, 29; 21. Smoky Valley, 25; 22. SE-Cherokee, 22; 23. Seaman, 21; 24. Kapaun, 20; 25. Paola, 13; 26. Independence, 11; 27. Mill Valley, 9; 28. KC Piper, 9; 29. McPherson, 5; 30. Salina South, 4; 31. Lansing, 3; 32. St. Paul, 2; 32. El Dorado, 2

Great Bend results
200-meter medley relay — GBHS, DQ
200 freestyle — 16. Kira Cook, 2:14.52
200 individual medley — 8. Hannah Hildebrand, 2:19.42; 38. Kylee Spray, 2:43.20
100 butterfly — 19. Maddie Vesta, 1:09.92
100 freestyle — 5. Hannah Hildebrand, 55.63; 13. Kira Cook, 59.57
200 freestyle relay — 11. GBHS (Kira Cook, Michaela Cape, Katy Jerke, Hannah Hildebrand), 1:49.21
100 backstroke — 24. Maddie Vesta, 1:13.68
400 freestyle relay — 11. GBHS (Kira Cook, Katy Jerke, Kylee Spray, Hannah Hildebrand), 4:03.35