Gilmer and Pickens swimmers joined forces for the top performance at the Georgia Games.
Thirty-seven teams attended the June 10 meet at the Cherokee Aquatic Center, and many of the meet’s top swimmers swam unattached.
Seven Gilmer swimmers made the trip, and they combined for a trio of first-place finishes. Bobcat Jacob Kucera was the top swimmer in the 50-yard backstroke (29.75) among 15 to 18-year olds.
In the girls 15 to 18-year old division, Gilmer’s Ester Bowman, Elizabeth Kucera, Yana Jones and Pickens’ Savannah Retford won the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 2:29.64. They also led the field in the 200 free relay in 1:12.13.
Bowman continued to have success in individual events as she was second in the 50 free (30.46), 50 breaststroke (41.00) and 100-yard individual medley (1:09.13). Her time of 1:09.13 landed her in third place in the 100 free.
Bobcats Kucera and Cheyne Smith teamed with Pickens’ Liam Kimbrell and Nate Townsend for a pair of runner-up relay placements. They secured times of 3:14.36 in the 200 medley, while they finished the 200 free in 1:47.15.
Kucera went on to finish third in the 100 free (56.08) and fourth in the 50 (24.15).
Cheyne Smith posted third-place times in both the 50 breast (35.45) and 100 IM (1:09.07). He was fifth in the 50 free (25.86) and sixth in the 50 butterfly (30.06).
Reece Smith’s individual placements included fourth in the 100 free (1:22.28), sixth in the 50 free (36.74) and eighth in the 50 breast (51.77).
Lady Cat Kucera competed in four individual events and placed sixth through ninth, respectively, in the 50 back (41.07), 50 fly (36.71), 100 IM (1:28.16) and 50 free (34.07).
Yana Jones took seventh in the 50 breast (52.99) and was eighth in both the 50 free (35.72) and 100 (1:23.11). Lilly Jones competed in the 9-10-year old age group and placed seventh in the 25 free (21.51), was eighth in the 50 back (26.79) and 12th 50 free (51.13).
Gilmer’s outdoor meet at Cartersville last Thursday was rained out. The Bobcats and Lady Cats return to Cherokee Thursday, and the district meet will take place Saturday in Fort Oglethorpe.