HCHS Swim Cats back in water after long break from racing

After a five-week break from racing, the Henry County Swim Cats dove back into competition last week with two meets. The team, composed of twins Kaitlin and Kara Blair and coached by their mother Melanie, raced at the Family Activity Center in Shelbyville last Wednesday and at Kentucky State University in Frankfort Saturday.

Both girls got a jump start to the new year with season-best times.

At the FAC last Wednesday, Kaitlin taped poolside in the 200-yard IM - composed of 50 yards of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle - in 2:46.33 and the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:22.08, while Kara finished the 200-yard freestyle in 2:35.90 and the 100-yard butterfly in 1:23.57. Both of Kaitlin's races were season-best times.

At Saturday's meet, which included Anderson County, Franklin County, Frankfort and Western Hills, Kaitlin finished the 200-IM in 2:50.64 and the 100-breaststroke in 1:23.87, while Kara finished the 100-freestyle in 1:08.24 and the 100-breaststroke in 1:29.87. The girls switched roles this time out with both of Kara's races producing season-best times.

Before the two meets last week, the Swim Cats were last in competition on Dec. 5 at the FAC. They will be back in action on Jan. 26 at the Shelby County Invitational at the FAC, and then prepare for the KHSAA Region 3 Championships, held at Falling Springs Arts and Recreation Center in Versailles on Feb. 1-2. The top two swimmers in each event will automatically advance to the state meet, held in Louisville the following weekend.

Melanie said the team has fewer meets this year to focus on practice, and their plan is to compete in different events "just to keep it fun and interesting."

"We are now training hard to prepare for the regional meet," Melanie said.

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