What has proven a breakthrough season for Cazenovia High School sophomore Quinn Smith would culminate with his appearance in last weekend’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association boys swimming championships.
Smith, who swims with Fayetteville-Manlius, was the sectional Class A champion in the 500-yard freestyle and qualified for that event, plus the 200-yard individual medley, in the state meet at Long Island’s Nassau County Aquatic Center.
In the 500 freestyle, Smith had gone four minutes, 48.77 seconds to qualify 40th among 59 competitors. Here at the state meet, Smith swam to a time of 4:54.78 and got to 46th place.
Ultimately, the state championship went to Garden City’s Jake Newmark, who was swimming close to home and finished in 4:23.24, more than six seconds ahead of Pittsford’s Liam Murphy (4:29.27).
Moving to the 200 IM, Smith looked to improve upon the 1:58.92 that got him into the state meet as the 36th-best qualifier. But here, Smith swam to a time of 2:00.02 and finished 40th, unable to reach the finals.
Great Neck South’s Justin Whang would earn the state championship in a time of 1:51.12, beating out the 1:51.75 from Miller Place’s Henry Shemet.
Section III’s best finish came in the 100 breaststroke, where Baldwinsville’s Nick Schultz twice broke the sectional record in the state meet and finished Saturday in 56.14 seconds. Watertown’s Nate Carlos was third overall and second among NYSPHSAA swimmers in the 100 freestyle in 46.06 seconds.
