CFST second at Bitterroot Invite

Led by high-point swimmer Michael Baiar, the Columbia Falls Swim Team earned second place in the 11-team Bitterrroot Invitational held Saturday and Sunday in Hamilton to open the 2009 season.

With more than twice as many swimmers as Columbia Falls, the Bitterroot Swim Team took the overall title with 1,811 points. CFST scored 546 to nose out Conrad (535) for second place. Shelby was third (410).

CFST head coach Mike Nelson said 20 of his 35 swimmers competed in the opener. He expects that number to rise to about 25 for the Plains Invitational this weekend.

"Veteran swimmers shaved time while newcomers showed us what they were made of," Nelson said. All events were measured in yards.

Nelson said all 20 CFST members in action qualified for Sunday's finals in Hamilton.

"The kids did great for their first meet, especially for only having five practices in the water," Nelson said. "I'm very excited to watch these kids progress through the summer."

Baiar swam to high-point honors in the boys 15-19 age group, winning one individual event and placing second in two others. His winning time was 28.67 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly. He was second in the 50 freestyle (26.02) and 100 freestyle (1:00.34).

CFST was first in the 200 medley relay in the 15-19 division. Baiar, Vincent Erickson, Nate Labuda and Ben Donner swam the legs of the race in 2:10.53.

Karyssa Nelson provided a major highlight for the girls. She broke swimmate Bria Ward's 9-10 division pool record in the 100 freestyle. Her winning time was 1:18.80.

Katie Donner (13-14) improved her 100 breaststroke time by more than two seconds en route to first place in 1:29.23.

Ben Donner (15-19) won the 100 butterfly (1:28.13), and Erickson (15-19) was first in the 100 backstroke (1:22.28).

Dalton Nelson, Labuda, Erickson and Donner teamed for first in the 200 freestyle relay (15-19) in 1:53.73.

"We had excellent races from first time swimmers," coach Nelson said, speaking of Analise Henjum, Danny Henjum, Tyler Langton and Kaleb Bagley. "They have talent!"

For individual results of Columbia Falls Swim Team members at the Bitterroot Invitational, see the June 18 print issue of the Hungry Horse News.