Packers on the podium; Walker, relay teams take home medals from state swimming
Published 1:09 am Sunday, March 6, 2016
![Isaac Christopherson swims in the 100-freestyle at the Class A state swimming and diving meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis Saturday.](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2016/03/0307-swim-100-conso.jpg)
Isaac Christopherson swims in the 100-freestyle at the Class A state swimming and diving meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis Saturday.
The Packers had a solid day as they took sixth place and four of their swimmers got on the podium at the Class A state swimming and diving meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis Saturday.
The Austin 200-yard freestyle relay team of Ben Walker, Seth Clasen, Mitchell Mayer and Isaac Christopherson took third as it swam its best time of the season, but it missed out on second place by less than two-tenths of a second. The Austin 400-yard freestyle relay team of Walker, Clasen, Mayer and Christopherson took fourth place with a season’s best time.
“The meet was unreal,” Walker said. “Going into the relays was crazy. It was one of the most perfect days we’ve had.”
Walker took third place in the 100-yard butterfly and he re-set his school record to a time of 50.77 seconds. Walker was three-tenths of a second out of second place. Clasen was eight in the 100-butterfly with a new personal best time of 52.88 seconds.
Walker also re-set his record in Friday’s prelims, but he felt he could go a little faster against faster swimmer in the finals.
“I had some faster swimmers pushing me today,” Walker said. “It was awesome.”
As a team, Austin finished with 126 points. Saint Thomas Academy won the meet with a 430.
AUSTIN RESULTS
200-medley relay: Kaleb Blaser, Zach Newman, Ben Walker, Mitchell Mayer (12th, 1:42.09)
200-freestyle: Isaac Christopherson (ninth, 1:46.55)
50-freestyle: Seth Clasen (12th, 22.25)
100-butterfly: Ben Walker (third, 50.77); Seth Clasen (eighth, 52.88); Mitchell Mayer (11th, 48.35)
100-freestyle: Isaac Christopherson (10th, 53.81)
200-freestyle relay: Seth Clasen, Ben Walker, Mitchell Mayer, Isaac Christopherson (third, 1:27.28)
400-freestyle relay: Ben Walker, Seth Clasen, Mitchell Mayer, Isaac Christopherson (fourth, 3:14.75)