Vondenstein breaks own state record

BENTONVILLE — Lakeside High School sophomore Mason Vondenstein set two new state records, including one he broke last year, Saturday in the Class 1A-5A state swimming championships at the Bentonville Community Center.

Vondenstein was pushed by challengers in both events. He set the state record time of 2:12.74 in the 200-yard individual medley last year as a sophomore.

Jordan Jones, of Little Rock Christian, finished Saturday with a time of 2:11.44, but Vondenstein smashed the previous record. He finished first again and set a new state record of 2:05.85.

Vondenstein was also seeded first in the 100yard backstroke with a seeded time of 0:57.13, ahead of last year’s record of 0:57.54 set by Bryson Horn, of Haas Hall Academy. Heston Coon, of Mountain View, beat the previous record with a time of 0:55.83, but was edged out by Vondenstein at 0:55.55.

The Lady Rams placed in the top five of four events Saturday. They were recognized in two individual events and two relay races.

Senior Sarah-Marie Linneman placed fifth in the 100-yard backstroke at 1:07.65. She also competed in the 200-yard individual medley.

Junior Nicole Burek placed fifth with a time of

0:27.11 in the 50-yard freestyle. She also competed in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Linneman and Burek swam with junior Britney Loy and sophomore Lydia Cevela to a fourthplace time of 2:13.78 in the 200-yard medley relay. The team also qualified for the same event a year ago.

The team was seeded eighth in the 200-yard freestyle relay at 2:00.02. Lakeside placed fifth in the event at 1:58.16.

Lake Hamilton High School sophomore Noah Smith qualified for five events and opted to compete in the 200-yard individual medley and

500-yard freestyle in the Class 6A-7A competition. He was seeded eighth in the medley at 2:07.37 and seven in the freestyle at 5:12.97.

Smith placed fifth in both events. He finished with a time of 2:02.84 in the individual medley and 5:05.15 in the freestyle. Joseph Potts, of North Little Rock, won the freestyle event with a time of

4:50.95 after he was seeded first at 4:43.55.