4A state returners lead Inglemoor and Bothell swimming squads

Claire Thompson said she was close, but needed “an extra push” and “determination” to snatch some state-qualifying times this season.

“I like the kinds of races where the other person is right next to you,” the Inglemoor High junior said during practice last Wednesday at Carole Ann Wald Memorial Pool in Kenmore. “It makes it easier to push yourself.”

Two days later against Mercer Island, Thompson notched state times in the 50-yard freestyle (25.30 seconds) and 100-yard butterfly (1 minute, 2.25 seconds). The Viking 200-yard freestyle relay of Thompson, Liane Lovitt, Chelsey Seefeld and Leann Yee also grabbed a state mark of 1:44.94.

In diving, Viking Lindsay Bowker punched her state ticket with a 334.10-point performance and third-place showing at the 4A Kingco qualifier last Saturday at Juanita.

Yee, a sophomore, had yet to get an individual state time at press time, but she’s clearly motivated to nab one soon.

“I like the sprints — just the adrenaline rush,” said Yee, who took eighth at state in the 100 free last year. She also enjoys the 50 free.

Speaking of the freestyles, Bothell sophomore Mariah Williamson has hit state times in the 200 and 500 frees while Cougar sophomore Tiffany Dang is set for state in the 100-yard backstroke.

“They both train hard and do their all-year-round programs,” said Bothell coach Tom Linde, noting that Dang is a gifted sprinter while Williamson has switched gears successfully from a distance swimmer to a sprinter.

Dang and Williamson were part of Bothell’s eighth-place 200 free relay at state last year. Linde feels this year’s relay, featuring Dang, Williamson, Raynie Hultgren and Emily Anthony could make some noise at state, as well.

“We’ll be there at the end of the game,” Linde said.

Hultgren, a sophomore, is back in the pool and on the diving board after a few years off. The level-10 gymnast qualified for district diving last Saturday along with Bothell’s Michayla Craig and Inglemoor’s Kate Stratton, Kelsey Hay and Katie Thoma.

“(Hultgren) is the type of athlete that can win both dive and swim. How often does that happen?” Linde said.

While the sprinters keep tearing up the pool, there is one thing different about this season: the Northshore Pool is closed. Once the location for Inglemoor, Bothell and Woodinville’s home meets, the teams now swim at Juanita.

“I miss Northshore, but I’m used to swimming at Juanita (with WAVE Aquatics),” Yee said.

Added Thompson, who swims for the Bellevue Club: “If you wanna go fast, you’ve got to adapt to your surroundings.”

Both Thompson and Yee are just psyched to be swimming for Inglemoor, which won four straight state titles up until last year.

“We’re really a tight-knit group,” Thompson said. “If one person succeeds, we all succeed.”