A-J’s Elizabeth Bell advances to IHSA state swimming finals

Anna-Jonesboro Community High School senior Elizabeth Bell was heavily favored to win both of her events at the Nov. 14 IHSA Springfield sectional and to advance to the Nov. 20-21 state finals hosted by New Trier High School.

Bell met and exceeded her expectations.

In the 50 yards freestyle, Bell led from the blocks, hitting the electronic touch pad in 23.48. The personal best time dropped .45 of a second from her previous best and erased the Eisenhower Pool record of 23.71 set by Sarah Randag which had endured for 18 years.

In the 100 yards butterfly, Bell’s 56.32 was also good for the gold. Randag had also held that pool record until Bell destroyed it by .65 of a second. Finishing second but qualifying for the second year was Belleville East sophomore Lori Lynn, as did the third-place swimmer.

Event winners advance along with anyone meeting qualifying times.

Of the 189 young women from 36 schools between Quincy and Cairo, only eight moved to the next level. A-J’s entry was one of two double winners.

Also of local interest, Goreville’s Camille Davis put on a courageous burst in her last 50 yards to get the touch in the 100 backstroke. She was thrilled beyond words to have made her first IHSA state cut.

The Saluki Swim Club teammates will work out together Thursday, today, at the University of Illinois pool as they make their way to the Windy City for the finals.

Among all sectional qualifiers, Bell clocked the fastest time in both the 50 free and 100 fly. Optimism about chances for the finals next weekend is understandable, but the A-J contingent is very cautious and realistic.

Volunteer coach Howard Harris of Greenville was blunt: “Seed times mean nothing. Next Friday is a new day and we are ready.”

Harris collaborates with Saluki Team coach Jay Newton’s training regimen and they agree that athletic contests are not won on paper, but on the field, court, track or sometimes in the pool.

There are three former championship winners and runners up in the 50 free and 100 fly, as well as swimmers whose best times qualified them to compete in the Olympic Trials Meet. They are not intimidated or impressed with the Wildcat’s sectional marks.

Finally, history shows that some swimmers know they can “breeze” through sectionals, qualify, and then take it to full bore at finals. Coaches are sure these old veterans have painted a target on the back of the stranger from the Deep South.

After months-long use and a flurry of controversy regarding high tech suits, governing bodies of national swimming banned all models. The IHSA also banned them for this and future meets.

Preliminaries start during the afternoon of Nov. 20. The fastest 12 times in each event advance to Saturday’s championship.

IHSA offers streaming video of the Saturday afternoon finals. Go to <a href="http://IHSA.org">IHSA.org</a> and follow directions. Fans are hoping the Lady Wildcat will have escaped preliminaries and can be seen at that time.