The Delaware Swim Team got a new coach this year, with Bruce Gemmell heading south to work with Katie Ledecky and NCAP. I would say that the new man in charge, Sean Dougherty, is doing a decent job, though. One of the program’s top swimmers, Kaitlyn Jones, broke a National Independent High School Record on Saturday in the 200 IM, swimming a 1:56.31. Jones swims at Tatnall High School for Christina Nutini, and at the Delaware Swim Team under Dougherty, and the two efforts combined for a two second drop from her previous lifetime best of 1:58.1.
That broke the 1:56.85 set by Olympic Champion Missy Franklin just a month ago at the Colorado State Championship meet. Just before that, the record belonged to yet another Olympian, Kathleen Hersey, in 1:57.41.
Hersey ’08 – 25.11 – 29.25 – 34.86 – 28.19 – 1:57.41
Franklin ’13 – 25.59 – 27.89 – 35.73 – 27.64 – 1:56.85
Jones ’13 – 25.27 – 27.76 – 35.25 – 28.03 – 1:56.31
Jones swims her race as sort of a middle-ground between Franklin and Hersey. Her fly leg is slower than Hersey’s was, but faster than Franklin’s. Her back was the best of the group. Her breaststroke was again slower than Hersey but better than Franklin, and her freestyle was again in between the two.
Dagny Knutson’s overall record is still a few seconds away from anybody.
Jones, a senior, will head to the University of Virginia next fall. The Cavaliers went 1-4 at last weekend’s ACC Championships in the event, though this time from Jones would have won the race. She will also swim the 100 fly later in the meet.
Congrats KJ ! Heck of a swim !!