Prep swimming: Buchanan’s Bartel leads record-setting day at Central Section finals

On as fast a day at the Central Section swimming championships as any in recent memory, no one was quicker than Stephanie Bartel.

The Buchanan High School junior established section records in three events to highlight a banner day of individual performances at the Division I finals Saturday at the Clovis Olympic Swim Complex.

Bartel put her name atop the record books in the 200 individual medley, the 100 back and the 100 free during a meet that produced six section records, 10 All-America swims and 13 consideration All-America times, and saw the Clovis West girls capture their 20th straight section title while the Golden Eagles’ boys won for the 17th time in 18 seasons.

“A lot of the people, we all train together with the Clovis Swim Club and other clubs, and we all have a friendship,” Bartel said. “Watching one another do well inspired us all. There was an energy on the pool deck today. It was something I can’t put words to.”

Bartel, who spent May 4-8 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs participating in USA Swimming’s National Select Diversity Camp with some of the nation’s top competitors, opened by outdueling reigning 200 IM record holder Caitlyn Snyder of Clovis West. Snyder, who set the record last season with a 2:09.94, swam a 2:04.87 this year, but Bartel turned in an All-America 2:02.38.

“She’s always pushed me so hard since I was young,” Bartel said. “It was so awesome. It meant so much to me to race her and give her a run for her money. I’ve been working hard all season to get right there and race her.

“It feels good to be making history or be making an impact. I know out there, all the younger swimmers watching, I want them to be able to push themselves and go as hard as they can at every practice and strive to go for the records that have been set here.”

Bartel was even more dominant in the 100 back, finishing more than 4 seconds faster than Abby Samansky of Clovis West in 55.08, a time that was more than a second better than the section record of 56.37 set by Exeter’s Samantha Goates in 2008.

And finally, swimming the leadoff leg of the 400 free relay, Bartel exploded for a 100 split of 50.60, more than a half-second faster than section champion Skylar Elkington of Clovis West (a consideration All-America 51.26) and .46 of a second faster than the section record of 51.06 by Monache’s Kristie Begin in 1998.

“She had an excellent meet,” Buchanan girls coach Jennifer O’Meara said. “She was so well prepared and absolutely dialed in. She had goals and what she wanted to accomplish, and had her mind in the right place to get it done.”

Bartel, who won individual gold in the 200 free and 100 back last season and 200 IM and 100 back as a freshman, said training at the National Select camp helped push her times to another level.

“It was incredible to be able to race and train with some of the fastest people in the nation,” Bartel said. “Keeping up with them in training was a huge confidence booster. It made me feel much better about my swimming coming into this weekend. It made me realize all the things I can do if I put my mind to it.”

Also setting section records were Clovis West’s Matt Elkington in the 200 free and Clovis’ 200 and 400 free relay teams.

Elkington topped Clovis’ Graham Hauss, who swam an All-America 1:38.22, in the 200 free, winning with a 1:36.91 that was better than the 1:38.53 of another Clovis West star, Matt Bilello, in 2012. Elkington also won the 100 butterfly in an All-America 49.09.

“I’m so happy. I think it’s a pretty solid record to get, too,” Elkington said. “It’s been there awhile. I know the guy who got it, he went to (UC Santa Barbara) like I’m going to. And I’m glad to keep the tradition going.

“I went out as fast as I could. I knew I had to race the guy right next to me. He’s a great 200 freestyler. I just booked it. I died at the end, but still was able to get that good time. I was shocked at how fast I went. I was extremely happy with that time.”

Elkington’s performance, along with a pair of victories by Jacob Roberts (100 free in consideration All-America 46.13 and 100 back in 51.42) and a win by Clovis West’s 200 medley relay (Lane Hunter, Tom Schab, Preston Mayer and Austin Krietemeyer in 1:37.07) allowed the Golden Eagles to compile 479 points. Buchanan was second with 348.5 and defending champ Clovis third with 345.

Hauss, who also swam an All-America 4:29.14 while winning the 500 free, swam the leadoff legs on Clovis’ record-setting relays.

“I’ve had a rough season, but it’s nice to finally get back down to All-American times,” said Hauss, who battled illness that limited his training early in the season. “I want to thank all my teammates for pushing me, and my coaches.”

The 200 free, which also included Jacob Rolih, Jesse Serpa and Zach Koch, clocked a 1:23.71 to better the record of 1:24.73 the Cougars set last season. The 400 free, which also included Rolih, Seth Nabors and Koch, went 3:03.85 to top the mark of 3:05.17 Clovis West set in 2012.

“We put everything we had into it. Everyone swam hard,” Koch said. “Not only did we get the 200 free, but the 400 free, too. That shows we’re the dominant freestylers.”

For the girls, Skylar Elkington won the 50 free (23.71) and 100 free (51.26) and anchored wins in the 200 free (1:36.14) and 400 free relays (3:30.18) – all in consideration All-America times – as Clovis West scored 488 points.

“I thought it was pretty good. I’m excited for state next week,” Elkington said. “I want to go faster next week, so hopefully I can do that. I think I have more in me. I’m not fully tapered yet.”

Clovis, which finished second as a team with 366 points, received a pair of wins from freshman sensation Averee Preble, who swam consideration All-America times in the 100 fly (55.19) and 500 free (4:52.78). Preble, along with older sister Audree as well as Abby Mammen and Vivian Talmage, combined to win the 200 medley relay in 1:48.04.

“I’ve watched my sister for the past few years do this, and I’ve always been excited to come here,” Averee Preble said. “My 100 fly I’m super excited about. It was my best time all year. I couldn’t have asked for better. The 500, that one hurt, but it felt really good. Was really happy to see that time.

“This means a lot to me. I’ve put in a lot of work. Even thought I’m a freshman, I like racing older people and being here with them.”

Also scoring wins were Clovis’ Jillian Hatch in the 200 free (1:51.18) and Audree Preble in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.59) on the girls side, and Buchanan’s Thomas Vandiver in the 200 IM (1:53.23) and Noah Hickman in the 100 breaststroke (57.94), as well as Koch in the 50 free (consideration All-America 21.03) for the boys.

When combined with the results from the Division II meet, the top two swimmers in each event advance to the second CIF State Championships on Friday and Saturday at Clovis West.

This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 6:44 PM with the headline "Prep swimming: Buchanan’s Bartel leads record-setting day at Central Section finals."