The Faribault girls swam away with the title at Saturday’s Big Nine Championships in Winona.

Monday, November 01, 1999

The Faribault girls swam away with the title at Saturday’s Big Nine Championships in Winona.

The Falcons overcame four first-place finishes by Century. Faribault vaulted to victory on the strength of two relay wins – the 200-yard medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay – worth 64 points. (Relay points are double that of individual events.)

Austin, which held third place for a good part of the meet, fell into fifth when it was all over.

Senior Becky Sanford and freshman Meghan Walsh earned All-Big Nine honors.

Sanford came through with the Packers’ top finish, a second in the 500 freestyle. She finished just 0.45 seconds off the pace of race winner Katie Harris of Century.

Even after the meet, Sanford couldn’t shake the close finish from her thoughts.

"Honestly," Sanford said, "all that is going through my mind is what if I had sprinted 5 yards sooner. But, I’m satisfied."

Walsh earned a third-place finish in the 200 individual medley, which is 50 yards each of butterfly, back stroke, breast stroke and freestyle.

"I’m happy with how I swam my IM," Walsh said, "but my butterfly wasn’t as good as I’d hoped."

Austin sprint freestyler Lauren Goettsch earned honorable mention All-Big Nine honors, getting eighth in the 50 freestyle and ninth in the 100 freestyle.

"We held our own," Goettsch said. "The meet was basically a preparation for sections, a chance to get rid of a few butterflies. By the time sections come, we’ll be able to accomplish anything."

The Austin swim team hosts the Section 1A meet on Nov. 11-12 at the Ellis pool.

Big Nine results

Team Scores: 1. Faribault 291, 2. Century 214, 3. Winona 173, 4. Mankato West 168, 5. Austin 133, 6. Mayo 113, 7. Owatonna 109, 8. Albert Lea 82, 9. John Marshall 49, 10. Mankato East 33.

200-yard medley relay (10 entrants): 1. Faribault 1:54.55, 2. Century 1:56.28, … 6. Austin 2:00.13.

200 freestyle (37 entrants): 1. Brita Benson, Win., 1:59.93; 2. Megan Chida, Cen., 2:04.14; … 5. Becky Sanford, Aus., 2:06.66; 10. Sarah Heins, Aus., 2:11.00; 12. Stacy Bjorlie, Aus., 2:13.38; 16. Tristen Kusterer, Aus., 2:16.24.

200 individual medley (38 entrants): 1. Juleen Rodakowski, Cen., 2:12.00; 2. Jessica Johnson, Mayo, 2:17.01; 3. Meghan Walsh, Aus., 2:20.03; … 28. Alisha Farrell, Aus., 2:44.30; 29. Chrissy Srock, Aus., 2:44.37; 30. Briana Walsh, Aus., 2:45.25.

50 freestyle (40 entrants): 1. Naomi Gregerson, AL, 0:25.36; 2. Brenda Peters, Far., 0:25.42; … 8. Lauren Goettsch, Aus., 0:26.53; 12. (tie) Amanda Martin and Lisa Champlin, both of Aus., 0:27.62; 15. Amy Martin, Aus., 0:27.83.

Diving (34 entrants): 1. Emily Nauman, Far., 342.75; 2. Carrie Gospeter, ME, 317.55; … 5. Danielle Chapek, Aus., 286.00; 23. Jori Baldus, Aus., 96.45; 28. Katie Bambrick, Aus., 87.55; 34. Mandy Flack, Aus., 60.35.

100 butterfly (36 entrants): 1. Juleen Rodakowski, Cen., 0:59.17; 2. Megan Peters, Far., 1:03.14; … 6. Meghan Walsh, Aus., 1:04.39; 8. Stacy Bjorlie, Aus., 1:07.97; 21. Nicole Novak, Aus., 1:14.94; 29. Alisha Farrell, Aus., 1:18.08.

100 freestyle (39 entrants): 1. Brita Benson, Win., 0:54.13; 2. Naomi Gregerson, AL, 0:55.19; … 9. Lauren Goettsch, Aus., 0:59.48; 11. Sarah Heins, Aus., 1:00.27; 18. Lisa Champlin, Aus., 1:01.67; 21. Liz Goskesen, Aus., 1:03.18.

500 freestyle (38 entrants): 1. Katie Harris, Cen., 5:34.25; 2. Becky Sanford, Aus., 5:34.70; … 27. Nicole Champlin, Aus., 6:29.54; 29. CHrissy Srock, Aus., 6:30.79; 35. Charity Rockwell, Aus., 6:54.95.

200 freestyle relay (10 entrants): 1. Faribault 1:43.35, 2. Mankato West 1:47.13, … 7. Austin 1:50.58.

100 back stroke (36 entrants): 1. Alli Wiese, Owa., 1:01.77; 2. Hailey Harn, Far., 1:02.31; … 9. Liz Goskesen, Aus., 1:09.28; 19. Amanda Martin, Aus., 1:12.91; 24. Tristen Kusterer, Aus., 1:14.07; 25. Briana Walsh, Aus., 1:15.00.

100 breast stroke (37 entrants): 1. Jessica Johnson, Mayo, 1:10.36; 2. Laura Heydt, Win., 1:12.86; … 13. Carrie Braaten, Aus., 1:18.35; 16. Amy Martin, Aus., 1:18.87; 24. Nicole Champlin, Aus., 1:23.14; 36. Lisa Mader, Aus., 1:28.78.

400 freestyle relay (10 entrants): 1. Century 3:48.39, 2. Winona 3:51.73, … 4. Austin 3:56.94.