FORT COLLINS – Rampart senior Kyrene Clarke had a record day but not quite the finish she envisioned.

Clarke broke her school record in the 200-yard individual medley Saturday, taking fourth in the race at the Class 5A state swimming championships.

But she was less than enthused about her fourth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke.

“That’s the highest I’ve gotten in the 200 IM, so I was proud of that,” said Clarke, who will swim at the University of Denver next year. “I definitely wanted my 100 breaststroke to be faster than it was.”

Freshman finishes strong

Doherty’s Sarah James arrived at the state meet with the sixth best time in 5A in the 100 backstroke. She then posted the seventh best mark in Friday’s preliminaries.

But the Spartans freshman responded in the final, where she finished fourth.

“I’m really happy with how I did,” she said. “I just wanted to make sure I got top five. I’m getting closer and closer to that All-American time.”

James’ time of 57.80 was a personal best but shy of the automatic All-American mark of 57.42.

“She’s definitely an inspiration,” coach Nicole Hart said. “A 57.80 is a great time for a freshman.”

Multi-tasking mom

James’ mother, Anne Goodman James, wasn’t just a spectator Saturday. The Colorado College swimming and diving coach used the opportunity to scout.

“It makes it a little more interesting,” she said. “You do feel kind of torn back and forth between what you’re trying to pay attention to, but it’s just exciting to see her race with the same people I’m recruiting.”

Falcon’s Richie Bailey, right, defeated Pueblo County’s Joey Costanza to win the 135-pound title on Saturday. Photo by KEVIN KRECK, THE GAZETTE