RAEFORD — A season-fastest time by the Lady Raiders’ 200-yard freestyle relay team was the highlight of Wednesday’s meet.
Swimming at the James A. Leach Aquatic Center, Richmond competed against five other Sandhills Athletic Conference schools for the fourth time this season.
Back in the pool for a competition for the first time since mid-December, the Lady Raiders took fifth place with 27 points.
Pinecrest High School earned the win with 283 points and in second place was Union Pines High School (198 points).
Rounding out the scoresheet were Scotland (116 points), Hoke County (102 points) and Lee County (25 points) high schools.
“It’s been a while since the girls have swam competitively,” head coach Andy Shuler said, “but I was pleased with everyone’s efforts. It’s great to see our times coming down in several events, especially the 200-yard relay which carries a lot of points.”
Four swimmers combined to complete the 200-yard freestyle relay in 2:25.71, which was 2.99 seconds faster than their previous outing last month (2:28.70).
Junior Nelly Cadena swam the first leg, followed by junior Samantha Barnes, sophomore Presley Dawkins and junior Alivia Webb.
Placing fourth overall as a team in the event, the Lady Raiders picked up a bulk of their scoring with 22 points.
An exhibition team made up of sophomore Emma Humann, senior Caroline Hunsucker, freshman Sulleigh Bruce and freshman Natalie Richardson clocked in at 2:46.19.
Webb and Cadena were responsible for recording the remaining five points for Richmond, all in the 50-yard freestyle.
Finishing 10th overall, Webb completed the race in 35.75 seconds and added three points. Cadena was right behind her in 11th place (two points) with a final time of 37.45 seconds.
Several Lady Raiders posted personal record times in exhibition heats of the open 50 freestyle — Barnes (37.50), Bruce (41.22), Dawkins (35.24), senior Evie Howell (43.24), Humann (42.55) and Hunsucker (43.80).
Also swimming an exhibition race were Janiyah Neal (46.86) and Richardson (38.41).
PHOTOS: Click here to see a photo gallery of Wednesday’s SAC swim meet.
The next meet for the Lady Raiders will be next Wednesday in Raeford and begin at 6:15 p.m.
