Clovis teams second in district meet

CARLSBAD — With a total contingent numbering around 100, Clovis High swimming coach Vincent de Maio figures his teams would have trouble trying to beat their counterparts from Las Cruces High.

Still, he thinks his squads are pretty well positioned for state competition in Albuquerque Feb. 19-20.

Both Clovis teams finished second to Las Cruces High in Saturday’s District 3 meet. The boys tallied 96 points to 179 for the Bulldawgs, while the girls had 129 to 185 for Cruces.

De Maio said Clovis has qualified seven girls in 14 events and five boys and 10 events for the state meet at Albuquerque Academy.

“We had some real close races (at Carlsbad), so we’re right there,” de Maio said. “The kids are still improving, so I’m happy with that.”

Freshman Brock Smith posted the Wildcats’ only win at district, leading a 1-2-3 Wildcats finish in the 500 freestyle in 5 minutes, 21.73 seconds, with John McCormick second and Kenan Bussen third.

“He’s really come along well, and he swam a great race up there,” de Maio said of Smith.

Bussen qualified for state in the 200 freestyle, finishing second in 1:56.75.

For the girls, junior Jill Southard won the 500 freestyle in a school-record 5:26.45. She helped the 200 medley relay team finish second and qualify for state in a school-record time of 2:01.51.

“I’m real happy with how the girls swam,” de Maio said.

Clovis swimmers came up second in four races, he noted, by a combined 1 1/2 seconds. — Brock in the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly, Southard in the 100 freestyle and the girls 400 freestyle relay.

DISTRICT 3 MEET
Saturday at Carlsbad
Boys
Team standings: 1. Las Cruces High 179; 2. Clovis 96; 3. Hobbs 93; 4. Carlsbad 55; 5. Artesia 52; 6. Alamogordo 20; 7. Mesilla Valley 16; 8. New Mexico Military 15.
Clovis top 3 finishes
200 medley relay: 3. Nick de Maio, Ryan Watters, Lucas Brock, Kenan Bussen 1:50.38. 200 freestyle: 2. Bussen 1:56.73 (SQ). 100 butterfly: 2. Brock 57.57. 100 freestyle: 2. Brock 50.93. 500 freestyle: 1. Brock Smith 5:21.73; 2. John McCormick 5:33.37; 3. Bussen 5:45.12. 400 freestyle relay: 2. Brock, de Maio, Smith, Bussen 3:36.47.

Girls
Team standings: 1. Las Cruces High 185; 2. Clovis 129; 3. Alamogordo 76; 4. Carlsbad 53; 5. Hobbs 43; 6. Artesia 22; 7. New Mexico Military 16; 8. Mesilla Valley 10.
Clovis top 3 finishes
200 medley relay: 2. Madison Silveira, Caitlin Myers, Jill Southard, Caitlin Dial 2:01.51 (SQ, SR). 200 freestyle: 2. Dial 2:11.28. 200 individual medley: 3. Myers 2:27.68. 100 butterfly: 2. Southard 1:05.21. 500 freestyle: 1. Southard 5:26.45 (SR). 200 freestyle relay: 3. Amelia Langston, Heather Steinle, Chelsea Carter, Martha Chace 1:55.35. 100 backstroke: 3. Silveira 1:06.56. 400 freestyle relay: 2. Southard, Carter, Dial, Myers 3:56.63.
SQ — state-qualifying time. SR — school record. Note: Brock (50.8) and Southard (57.73) posted state-qualifying 100 freestyle times on their legs on the 400 freestyle relay.