West Newsmagazine 3-7-18

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Abigail Levine wins Class 1 state
championship in 100 breaststroke
By WARREN MAYES
Ranked second in the state in the 100
breaststroke, Parkway Central sophomore
Abigail Levine showed the Class 1 field at
the state meet who was No. 1.
Levine won the event with a time of 1
minute, 5.14 seconds in the first Class 1
state swimming and diving meet, held at
the Rec-Plex in St. Peters.
“I knew Abby had a shot at winning the
100 breaststroke,” Parkway Central coach
Jennifer Meyer said. “She is a really hard
worker and put in extra morning practices
all season long in her quest to win the event
this year. She won by over a second and
swam a personal best.”
“It was a personal best by 0.12 seconds,”
Levine said. “The 100 breast has always
been my favorite event and my best event.”
It was the 43rd annual Missouri Swimming
and Diving Championships, but the
first one to have the meet split into two
classes. Parkway Central was slotted into
Class 1.
Levine is no stranger to the state meet;
she reached state as a freshman. She competed
in the 100 yard breaststroke and
placed fifth. She also swam in the 100 yard
butterfly and was on two relay teams.
Abigail Levine
It prepared her for this year. She had a
solid regular season, finishing first in the
100 breaststroke at the Parkway Quad and
at the Kirkwood Invitational.
Going in to state, she was confident. She
hoped she would get a medal to add to the
one she earned as a freshman.
“I was expected to be top eight in both
my individual events and, as a school, to
be ranked in the top five,” Levine said. “I
was ranked second in the state going into
the meet, but I was going to try to give it
my all to claim the state title.”
Before the 100 breast event, she said
nerves weren’t an issue.
“Before my race, as I was warming up, I
felt confident about my stroke and my race
strategy,” Levine said. “As I was walking
out to the blocks, I was more excited than
nervous to represent my school and my
team. The race itself felt strong going out
and I gave it my all.”
Meyer was happy with how Levine performed
in the race.
“Abby went into finals determined to win
and confident that she could,” Meyer said.
“She felt good in warm-ups that day. She
controlled the race from the very beginning
and stayed ahead the entire time. Her
stroke was smooth... Her start and turns
were fast.”
Levine also swam in the 100 fly. She
placed fifth overall with a time of 59.76.
In the 200 medley relay, the Colts came
in second place and set a new school record
with a time of 1:50.17. Levine also was
on the 400 free relay team that earned a
fourth-place finish.
Like all talented swimmers, Levine
works hard to get better. She puts in the
time to improve herself.
“Some days, before school, I get into the
pool for about 1 1/2 hours to complete over
3 1/2 to 4 hours of training
a day,” Levine said. “I have
around seven practices a
week which include weight
training and core work.”
She gives much credit to
Meyer.
“Coach Meyer has pushed
me through hard sets that I
never knew I could accomplish,”
Levine said. “She has
installed a strong work ethic
in not only me, but the rest of
my team.”
“Abby is a very hard
worker and I expect her to
continue to improve,” Meyer
said. “She has already shown
great leadership qualities as a
sophomore and I expect her
to be a good team leader over the next two
years.”
Levine also swims for the Parkway Swim
Club, which is coached by Jon David Williford.
“A club team provides me with a fellowship
of other swimmers with which I can
compete at a higher level,” Levine said.
She and her club team will be competing
at Speedo Sectionals at the University of
Missouri this month. Following that meet,
Levine will be traveling to Orlando, Florida,
to compete at NCSA Junior Nationals.
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