Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 1, 1993 TAG: 9308020357
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
"I wanted to win all of my races and break the meet records," she said.
Pretty lofty goals for a 13-year-old.
But not for the Roanoke Country Club swimmer, who already owned four meet records in the 11-12 girls' gold division.
In her first meet in the 13-14 division, Bucher left the field in her wake, winning all five of the events she entered. She set meet records in three and was one-hundredth of a second off another.
Bucher won the 50-yard freestyle in 25.32 seconds, the 50 breast stroke in 33.04, the 100 individual medley in 1 minute, 1.63 seconds - all meet records - and the 50 butterfly in 28.64.
Her time of 55.83 in the 100 freestyle was just a hair off the mark of 55.82 set by Susan Wolfle of Blacksburg in 1986.
Bucher's performances, however, weren't enough to help Roanoke Country Club retain the City/County team championship. Elks Club scored a total of 6,349 points to win the title. Roanoke Country Club was second with 5,547 1/2, followed by Hidden Valley (4,000), Blacksburg (3,847) and Stonegate (2,421).
The finale of the Roanoke Valley Aquatic Association's summer swim season concluded Saturday at Radford University's Dedmon Center.
Brian Manning and John Logan, competing in the boys' 17-18 gold division, continued their domination. Each won three events and set three meet records.
Manning, who swims for Radford's club, won the 50 backstroke in 26.33 and the 100 individual medley in 56.71. Both were meet records and personal-best times.
"My goals were to come in and win so I can set new goals," Manning said. "I also wanted to improve my times."
Manning, who owns seven City/County records, also won and set a meet record in the 100 freestyle (48:48).
Logan, who swims for Roanoke Country Club, won the 50 butterfly (24.85), 50 breast stroke (29.16) and 50 freestyle (21.51). He also holds four meet records in the 11-12 division and one in the 15-16 division.
Logan and Manning share the 50-yard butterfly record in the 15-16 division with a time of 25.52.
Elks Club was helped by the superior performances of Kevin Henderson, Lindsay Hock, Ashley Neighbors and Jennifer Kellinger.
Henderson had five first-place finishes in the boys' 9-10 gold division, Hock was first in four events in the girls' 7-8 gold division and Neighbors won four events in the girls' 9-10 gold division.
Kellinger placed first in four of the women's 25-and-up events, including a record-setting performance in the 50 freestyle (27.33).
Blacksburg coach James Wolfle, competing in the men's 25-and-up gold division, placed first in three events and was second in two.
Lissa Wood of Hunting Hills also had a strong meet, placing first in four events in the girls' 15-16 gold division and setting a meet record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.45.
A total of 18 meet records fell, down from 45 last year.
"I think the meet was just fantastic. I didn't hear one negative thing," co-director Pat Willard said.
This was the ninth and final meet for Willard as a co-director. She has been involved in RVAA swimming since 1977 and said she was ready to let her partner, Don Thomas, take over.
"I've been saying for six years, `This is going to be my last year,' " she said. "But I get emotional. These really are the best kids in the valley. It's nice to see them have so much fun."
"Fun" is just how Bucher and Manning described the meet.
"I still feel the pressure," Bucher said. "But these are the people we see all season. All the teams are so spirited."
Manning added, "The level of competition is not as high here as like national meets. It's not as serious. We all know each other and have a good time."
by CNB