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Aspen High swimmers in top 10 at state

Dale Strode
The Aspen Times
Aspen HIgh School's Kennnidy Quist collects a third-place medal at the State Swimming and Diving Championships in Thornton. She was the highest-scoring Western Slope swimmer at the state Class 4A meet.
Courtesy photo |

The Aspen High School girls swim team splashed into more history this week.

The Skiers recorded an all-time best seventh-place team finish at the annual State High School Swimming and Diving Championships in Thornton.

The Aspen finish was produced by only five swimmers as they totaled more points that the other Western Slope teams combined at the Class 4A state meet.



“Kennidy Quist led the team with a new school record in the 50 freestyle,” coach Kathleen Callahan said. “She placed third, the highest finish every by an Aspen swimmer (at state),”

She said Quist also broke the Aspen High School record in the 100 freestyle when she placed fourth in the state finals.




“Kennidy had a stellar meet. She really brought her speed and finished great,” Callahan said. “Kennidy is a very talented athlete. While she swam fantastic, I know she is not satisfied with her results, knowing she is already planning on better results next year.”

Kelli Callahan also had solid swims at the state championships, the coach said.

Callahan just missed the school record in the 100 butterfly (by one one-hundred of a second). She finished seventh in the event, her best finish at the state championships.

In the 200 free, Callahan repeated her seventh-place finish.

Quist and Callahan teamed up with Emily Driscoll and Hannah Freeman to finish seventh in the 400 free relay, breaking another school record in the prcoess.

“It’s crazy, but it seems like every time these four girls dive into the water to compete in relays, they just keep breaking their own records,” the Aspen swim coach said.

“The girls decided to do something different for the 200 free relay,” Callahan said. “Kelli, Kennidy, Emily and Hannah had swam on Friday qualifying the team in eighth place for finals. On Saturday, they voted to have Rosie Rushing swim the final leg of the relay. Rosie is known on the team for her dedication and enthusiasm.”

The vote by the swimmers made a lasting impression on their coach.

Callahan said

for the sport and her team. Hannah was a great sport to give her spot up to Rosie on their relay.

“As a coach, I could not be more proud. Hannah was a great sport to give her spot up to Rosie,” Callahan said. “These young women demonstrated maturity, grace and sportsmanship. They have been an honor to coach.”

dstrode@aspentimes.com