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Aspen swimmers knock off rival Glenwood

Nate PetersonAspen, CO Colorado

ASPEN Aspen’s girls swim team did something Friday it had never done in its four-year history: beat rival Glenwood Springs. The Skiers didn’t just down the Demons, they routed them, winning the dual meet at the Aspen Recreation Center, 110-72.Aspen swimmers won seven of 12 events, highlighted by a 1-2-4 finish in the 200-yard medley relay, and a sweep of the top three positions in the diving competition and the 100-yard backstroke.Ali Kerr shined individually, swimming on two winning relay teams, taking second in the 50-yard freestyle and winning the 100-yard butterfly.The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Kerr, Kaitlin Gerson, Hana Maclean and Megan Karaus also set a new school record, winning in 1 minute, 54.42 seconds.”I think everyone was really excited,” said Skiers’ coach Calan Gibney. “Everyone swam very well. It’s something that we’ve never done before, so it was just really exciting for everyone, including the coaches.” Aspen jumped out to an early 12-2 lead with its 1-2 finish in the 200-yard medley relay and never looked back. The foursome of Gerson, Maclean, Keely Roberts and Kerr had a winning time of 2:10.25; Karaus, Annie Beuttow, Hannah Pike and ME Purnell took second in 2:14.57.In the 200-yard freestyle, Aspen got a combined nine points from Rachel Sher (second, 2:15.04), Maclean (third, 2:28.55) and Nicole Weiss (2:28.81).Roberts won the 200-yard IM in 2:42.41, followed by teammates Steffi Klawiter (third, 3:07.42) and Pike (fifth, 3:13.57).Kerr took second (27.77) in the 50-yard freestyle behind Glenwood Springs’ Sierra Grove. Karaus also scored for the Skiers, in fifth (29.34).Chelsea Hanle led an Aspen podium sweep in the diving competition, winning with 173.35 points. Rachel True was second (137.45) and Marieta Bialek was third (134.00).Kerr led three Skiers in the 100-yard butterfly, winning in 1:15.79. Klawiter was third (1:28.06), followed by Pike in fourth (1:33.23).In the 100-yard freestyle, Gerson was second (1:01.86), Shannon Pierce was third (1:06.08) and Sher was fourth (1:16.37).Roberts won the 500-yard freestyle (6:51.56) and was joined on the podium by Keaton Doyle (third, 8:12.65).Gerson also won the 100-yard backstroke in 1:14.02, to lead another podium sweep for the Skiers. Pierce was second (1:15.73), followed by Karaus in third (1:16.17).In the 100-yard backstroke, Maclean was second (1:21.37), Purnell fourth (1:25.42) and Beuttow fifth (1:28.10).Beuttow, Purnell, Keely and Pierce also scored points in the 400-yard freestyle relay, taking second in 4:51.11.The Skiers will be in their home pool again this Saturday, when they host Fruita Monument at 9 a.m.npeterson@aspentimes.com