Babcock sets record in 100 free at state; boys take second
The Columbia Falls swim team with their second-place trophy, from left, assistant coach Mike Nelson, Braxton Shewalter, Russ Albin, Colton Babcock, Sam Pierce, Sage Wanner, Kaleb Bagley, Riker Foster, head coach Amy Caudill, not pictured, Zayne Friar. Photo courtesy of Holly Pierce, Cherry Creek Images.
Led by senior Colton Babcock, the Columbia Falls boys swim team took second at the state A finals in Great Falls Saturday.
Babcock set a new state record in the 100 freestyle with a time of 46.31 seconds, beating the old record of 46.44 set in 2009. He also took second in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:44.04, less than a quarter second off the winning mark.
Babcock only had a 15-minute break between the 100 race and the 500.
The boys also took fifth in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:35.89 and seventh in the 400 freestyle relay with a 3:32.00. Sage Wanner, Russell Albin, Zayne Friar and Babcock swam the 200, Wanner, Sam Pierce, Friar and Babcock swam the 400 free.
Friar also took ninth in the 200 free and 12th in the 100 butterfly, with times of 1:56.30 and 59.36 respectively.
The young girls team did not score any points and tied for fourth.