Lafayette swimmers already achieve qualifying times for state girls meet

The Lafayette Lady Lancers swimmers and divers are on a roll this season.

The Lancers, who will swim at 4:15 p.m. Friday at Parkway West, are undefeated in dual matches and just won the Marquette Relays, which were held Saturday (Dec. 8). Lafayette came in first with 264 points. Coming in second and third were Parkway South (240) and Marquette (206).

“The Marquette Relays is always a fun meet,” Lafayette coach Todd Gabel said. “It gives me a chance to see where we are compared to other teams. I am always looking for what the girls can do for future meets.”

The Lancers finished in the top three places in seven out of the nine relays. Lafayette recorded four first-place finishes. The Lafayette divers took third place.

Moreover, several Lady Lancers achieved state qualifying times and one relay qualified for state, including:

• Laura Paskoff, 50 freestyle in 25:42 seconds and 200 freestyle in 2 minutes, 04 seconds.

• Laura Paskoff, Lauren Hansen, Kayla Eckardt and Gretchen Cox, 200 freestyle relay, 1:44:73.

•·Mae Riordan, 200 Individual Medley, 2:15:91.

•·Katherine Lucken, 100 backstroke, 1:03:29.

•·Taylor Holz, 100 butterfly, 1:02:92.

•·Claire Kirchhoefer, 100 butterfly, 1:12:46.

“Several girls have made state already it is a good thing so hopefully they are swimming even faster by the end of season,” Gabel said.

Lafayette defeated Lindbergh 128-58 on Tuesday (Dec. 11). Two relays qualified for state. The 200 Medley Relay team of Lucken, Kirchhoefer, Holz and Paskoff had a time of 1:58:56. The 400 free relay team of Paskoff, Holz, Gretchen Cox and Riordan won with a time of 3:52:82. Riordan also achieved two more state qualifying times: the 200 freestyle in 2:00:66 and the 100 backstroke in 1:04:10.

The Lancers opened the season last week with a victory against Mehlville. Three swimmers achieved state qualifying times: Cox, 500 freestyle, 5:27:03; Riordan, 500 freestyle, 5:25:32; and Katherine Lucken, 100 backstroke.

“The girls looked great against Mehlville in our opener,” Gabel said.