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AHS swimmer strikes silver

Dale Strode
The Aspen Times
Kennidy Quist of the Aspen Speedos achieved All-America status this week.
Courtesy photo |

Add another historic chapter for the Aspen High School girls swim team.

Aspen junior Kennidy Quist won two silver medals at the Class 4A Colorado High School Swimming and Diving Championships last weekend in the Denver area.

Quist finished second in both the 50 and 100 freestyle at the state meet, the highest finish for an AHS swimmer.



Both of her times qualified Quist for All-American consideration.

She helped the Aspen girls finish eighth as a team, the best among the Western Slope high schools.




“Our score of 116 is the best we have ever achieved (at state),” said Aspen head coach Kathleen Callahan. “I was hoping to finish higher this year, but there are some powerful teams in the 4A division.”

Valor Christian won the 4A state title with 320 points.

Evergreen was second at 252 points. Cheyenne Mountain finished third with Manitou Springs fourth, followed by Silver Creek, St. Mary’s, Windsor and Aspen.

Glenwood Springs finished ninth (107).

“(Kennidy’s) races were nail-biters to watch,” Callahan said. Quist was only .10 back in the 100 free and .20 back in the 50 free.

“She gave it her best effort this weekend, and I am so proud of her efforts,” the Aspen head coach said.

Callahan said Aspen freshman Davy Brown had some excellent swims at state.

She finished fifth in the 100 backstroke and eighth in the 200 individual medley.

“Davy is only a freshman; we can look for her to bring excellent efforts in the future,” Callahan said.

Senior Kelli Callahan, swimming in her last high school meet, finished 14th in the 200 freestyle at state.

“While she was not happy with her results, I believe they were amazing, considering she had been out of the water for five months due to illness,” the Aspen said.

She added that the Aspen High School relay teams had their highest state finishes.

Quist, Brown, Kelli Callahan and Emily Driscoll teamed up to finish sixth in the 200 medley relay.

Quist, Brown, Callahan and Hannah Freeman teamed for fifth place in the 400 free relay.

The Aspen coach said Taylor Patillo was the only swimmer on the team to drop time at this meet. But she just missed advancing to the finals.

Lelia Arthur, Peterson and Driscoll also swam in individual events at state but did not make the finals.

“We had a great team this year, breaking most of our team records,” coach Kathleen Callahan said. “It has been a pleasure to coach these young women this year. I look forward to next year.”

dstrode@aspentimes.com