Photos courtesy of Deidra Reeves
Bryant’s 200-yard medley relay team, Katie Higgs, Ploy Freebairn, Lindsey Butler and Libby Thompson. (Photo courtesy of Deidra Reeves)
LITTLE ROCK — Lindsey Butler captured the 100-yard backstroke championship at the 2014 Class 7A/6A State swimming and diving meet at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday.
Butler and the Bryant Lady Hornets earned medals for finishing in the top six in four events and compiled 160 points to finish fifth as a team. Bentonville dominated the competition with 471 points. Conway was second with 253 followed by Fayetteville (180) and Cabot (168).
In all, 32 teams competed in two divisions. Pulaski Academy won the 5A-1A state title with 224 points.
Butler was the only swimmer in the backstroke to finish under a minute. Her time was 59.14. Teammate Katie Higgs was 11th in 1:06.91.
In addition, Butler won an individual medal for her third-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle, turning in a 54.43. She also contributed legs to the Lady Hornets’ two medal-winning efforts in relays. Libby Thompson, Katie Higgs and Ploy Freebairn teamed up with Butler to take fourth in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:59.95. In the 200-yard freestyle, Higgs, Kalee Jackson, Freebairn and Butler finished in 1:49.59 to take sixth.
Bryant’s 400-yard freestyle relay team just missed joining the medal winners, finishing sixth in 4:16.35 with Rachel Vos, Reagan Smith, Jacey Bittle and Kalee Jackson teaming up.
The Lady Hornets earned points in four other events. Freebairn was ninth in 2:12.67 and Vos was 11th in 2:17.29 competing in the 200-yard freestyle. Higgs was 10th in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:32.13.
Freebairn and Vos also scored in the 500 free. Freebairn’s 5:51.49 was 11th. Vos was 13th in 6;09.36. Thompson pitched in with 11th-place points in the 100-yard breast stroke, turning in a 1:19.86.
Ploy Freebairn, Lindsey Butler, Kalee Jackson and Katie Higgs teamed up on the 200-yard freestyle relay. (Photo courtesy of Deidra Reeves)
