KELSO — Swimmers like to say breathing is overrated.
It’s a tongue-in-check remark about how they often try not to inhale water during competition.
But for Mountain View sophomore Lucy Demaray, the struggle is a bit more real.
“I have asthma,” Demaray said. “So, sometimes I just can’t breathe, especially in a facility like this (humid with chlorine), it makes it hard.”
But that didn’t stop Demaray from excelling in two of the more challenging events in high school swimming — the 200-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle.
Demaray dominated both events in winning titles at the 4A/3A District 4 girls swimming championships Saturday at Kelso High School.
Demaray won the 200 IM in 2 minutes, 16.43 seconds, outdistancing runner-up Stephanie Gonzalez of Kelso by 22 seconds.
In the 500 free, it was more of the same. Demaray won in 5:30.16, almost a minute better than Mili Whipps of Kelso.
“I felt really good about how things went, especially my 200 IM,” Demaray said. “That was very good. It was an overall personal best. And my 500 free, I was happy with it, especially since I couldn’t really breathe during that.”
Demaray also helped Mountain View win the 200 medley and 200 free relay, although the 200 free relay was very tight.
Lorena McCarty was completing the third leg of the relay, Demaray’s coach got a signal that it was time for her to go.
“It was a little scary,” Demaray said. “We were all a little nervous. I just put my head down and I was like ‘I’ve got win.’ It was fun.”
Demaray was one of three dual winners in the 3A meet.
Mountain View’s Peyton Sweet won the 200 freestyle (2:07.88) and 100 butterfly (1:04.91), and Heritage’s Haley Gunderson won the 50 freestyle (24.88) and 100 backstroke (1:01.13).
“I got a (personal record) in the 100 back, which I was pretty excited about,” Gunderson said. “I was excited that I was able to PR this early in the season. I’m not fully tapered, and I should be tapered more once state gets closer.”
Winners from Saturday’s meet qualified for the state meet, which will be held Nov. 15-16 in Federal Way.
Peyton Atkins of Prairie (100 free, 57.12) and Riley Stevenson of Heritage (100 breast, 1:16.93) also won district titles.
Kelso beat out Mountain View for the team title 276-248 despite not posting only one win. That went to the 400 free relay team of Whipps, Emily Tennant, Trinity Noga and Natalie Brown.
Camas dominated the 4A meet, posting wins in every event but two. In fact, in four events, the Papermakers claimed the top four spots.
Senior Lila McGeachy led the way, winning the 200 free (1:57.21) and 500 free (5:12.33) in state meet-qualifying times.
Camas also got wins from Kathryn Sitler (50 free, 26.34), Genova Michaelson (100 butterfly, 1:03.11), Poppy Jones-Wick (100 free, 56.58) and Jamie Harris (100 breast, 1:15.91), as well as all three relays.
Skyview’s Bailey Trahan broke up the sweep for Camas, claiming wins in the 200 individual medley (2:18.52) and 100 backstroke (1:01.75).
