RAEFORD — Closing out its regular season Wednesday, the Richmond Senior High School girls’ swimming team placed sixth overall.
It was also senior night at the Leach Aquatic Center. Prior to the start of the Sandhills Athletic Conference meet, senior swimmers from Hoke County, Pinecrest and Richmond were recognized.
During the meet’s midway break, seniors from Lee County, Scotland and Union Pines were called.
The Lady Raiders had four seniors this winter — Hadley Garner, Evie Howell, Caroline Hunsucker and Janiyah Neal.
Richmond tallied 23 points, which trailed fifth-place Lee County High School (35 points). Winning the meet was Pinecrest (281 points).
“We were short handed tonight in some events, but overall, the team swam well and competed,” head coach Andy Shuler said. “It’s always a good night when we get to recognize our seniors, and this year’s group improved a lot throughout the season.”
The Lady Raiders registered 20 points with a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay, clocking in at 2:25.67.
Helping record the team’s fastest time in the event this season were Samantha Barnes, Presley Dawkins, Natalie Richardson and Alivia Webb. This week’s time was 0.04 seconds faster than the Lady Raiders’ last outing.
Webb was responsible for the remaining three points, which she earned in a 10th-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle. She completed the lap in the pool in 35.82 seconds.
Nine swimmers participated in exhibition heats of the open 50-yarder and five of them set new personal record times — Barnes (36.77), Garner (45.77), Howell (42.95), Neal (43.95) and Richardson (35.54).
Other swimmers to compete in the event were Sulleigh Bruce (43.44), Dawkins (35.96), Emma Humann (43.09) and Hunsucker (45.28).
Bruce, Garner, Howell and Humann also teamed up to swim an exhibition race of the 200-yard freestyle relay. The four Lady Raiders completed the event in 2:54.45.
The Sandhills Athletic Conference championship will be held Saturday in Raeford at the Leach Aquatic Center.
Below are photos from Wednesday’s swimming senior night taken by sports editor Kyle Pillar.
