Pink balloons, pink rubber ducks, pink swim caps and t-shirts — pink was everywhere at the MCB pool Tuesday as the Perry swim team hosted Think Pink night. Dedicated to increasing awareness of the fight against breast cancer, the Jayettes were hosting strong teams from Atlantic and Spencer.
The format was a double-dual, in which each team was scored separately against each opponent. Atlantic was a 85-29 winner over Spencer and a victor, by an 81-13 margin, over Perry. Spencer topped Perry, 62-32, in the remaining comparison.
Two strong individual triumphs highlighted the meet for the hosts.
Senior Breanna Penenger has had a career goal of besting the school record of 5 minutes, 51.56 seconds in the 500 freestyle. The mark was set by Janae Weiser in 1999; Weiser was the last Jayette to crack the six-minute barrier (doing so in ’99) until Penenger crossed the vexing threshold Tuesday, finishing second to Atlantic and first against Spencer in 5:58.17, a personal best by 2.38 seconds. Teammate Sarah Vaughn was second to Spencer in 6:17.93.
Senior Vivian Gonzalez had set the stage two events prior by shattering her previous best in the 100 butterfly. She touched 3/3 (against Atlantic/Spencer) in 1:21.88, lopping a huge 3.43 seconds off her previous best effort.
The foursome of Martina Ride, Anna Ridnour, Abby Herman and Vaughn were 3/2 in the 200 medley relay in 2:18.33, with Ridnour, Herman, Rade and Dannah Karolus 3/2 in the 200 free relay in 2:00.51. The Jayettes were 3/3 in the 400 free relay, with Vaughn, Karolus, Penenger and Avery Miner finishing in 4:25.38.
Penenger was 2/2 in the 200 free in 2:14.98, with Karolus 3/1, in 2:42.58, in the 200 individual medley while Rade, who touched in 29.33, 3/3 in the 50 free.
Herman placed 3/3 in the 100 free in 1:08.98, with Ridnour 3/1 in the 100 breaststroke in 1:27.51. Rade was 3/2 in the 100 backstroke in 1:13.25, with Gonzalez third against Spencer in 1:18.54 in the same race.
Perry is off until hosting Algona and Carroll Monday in the final regular season meet of the year. The event will be the final home appearance for seniors Gonzalez, Penenger, Kimberly Valdez and Rade.
