CANTON — Clinton-Massie’s Gracie Storm qualified for the consolation finals in two events during Thursday’s first day of the Div. II Ohio State Swimming & Diving Championship at Canton McKinley High School’s CT Branin Natatorium.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “I was going for my own personal best. I was trying to make it back in both events.”
Mission accomplished on three of four accounts.
Storm, who went 58.29 seconds in last week’s district meet, finished the 100-yard backstroke in 58.77 seconds on Thursday. That puts her in 14th position going into the consolation final.
“I’ll take it,” she said as she looked at the results for the first time during the interview.
In the 500-yard freestyle, the senior reset her own school record by swimming the distance in 5:10.91. She has the 15th fastest time and will swim for ninth place in the consolation heat on Friday.
“The competition is hard,” she said. “Everybody brings it at Canton. You have to bring your all.”
Storm has qualified to the state meet in seven events over the course of her four-year high school career. She has made the final day in one event, so reaching the second day in two events is a strong way to end her CMHS career.
“I thought about that while I was cooling down,” she said. “I have one more swim in the Clinton-Massie cap. I don’t think it’s really hit me yet to where I’ll get emotional. I don’t think it will hit me until tomorrow … on my way home from Canton.”
