Double repeat: Menear wins WPIAL gold again in backstroke, 200 IM
Mapletown senior Ella Menear swims the breaststroke leg of the 200 IM in Thursday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class AA Swimming & Diving Championship at the University of Pittsburgh蘑菇视频 Trees Pool. Menear won the gold medal in 2:03.96. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Mapletown senior Ella Menear successfully defended her title in the 100 backstroke in Thursday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class AA Swimming & Diving Championship at the University of Pittsburgh蘑菇视频 Trees Pool. Menear had a winning time of 54.36 seconds.
Mapletown senior Ella Menear swims the freestyle leg of the 200 IM on her way to the gold medal in Thursday's WPIAL Class AA Swimming & Diving Championship at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.
PITTSBURGH 鈥� The second day of the WPIAL Class AA Swimming & Diving Championship last Friday afternoon was just as golden as the first one for Mapletown蘑菇视频 Ella Menear.
One day after successfully defending her gold medal in the 200 IM at the University of Pittsburgh蘑菇视频 Trees Pool, Menear retained her 100 backstroke title.
Menear entered the meet with the best seed time in the 100 backstroke and finished with the best time as she successfully defended her gold medal in 54.36 seconds. The Mapletown senior finished two seconds ahead of Hampton蘑菇视频 Lainey Sheets.
鈥淥n the last flip turn, I could see people around me. I had a feeling that I was ahead because you can鈥檛 really tell,鈥� said Menear.
Menear was hoping to touch the wall with a better time.
鈥淚 wanted to be a little faster. I was trying to break 54 (seconds),鈥� explained Menear. 鈥淭he record (54.10, which she set last year) was on my mind.
鈥淩ecords are meant to be broken, but medals are forever.鈥�
The small school in Greene County will not likely have another swimmer like Menear cross into the halls.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 definitely an honor to be so blessed to put Mapletown on the map,鈥� said Menear, adding, 鈥淕od has blessed me so much.鈥�
Menear was the second seed coming into Thursday蘑菇视频 200 IM, but left with the gold medal after touching the wall in 2:03.96. Kiski Area蘑菇视频 Eliza Miller, the top seed, was second in 2:05.45.
Menear needs to store time for the toughest of the four strokes, the breaststroke on the third leg.
鈥淭he breaststroke is my worst stroke, but it蘑菇视频 gotten better over the four years,鈥� said Menear. 鈥淚 need to make up time in the butterfly and backstroke.
鈥淚 was happy with my time, considering I鈥檓 not on a taper. This is my last WPIAL meet. I was faster than last year.鈥�
Menear was already looking ahead to the backstroke after winning her first gold on Thursday.
鈥淭he 100 backstroke is my favorite event. I鈥檓 looking forward to it. I鈥檓 going out and trying my best,鈥� added Menear.
She accomplished that goal as well and now heads to the PIAA championships.