NEW COMMIT: Ball State University has received their first verbal commitment for the fall of 2022 from backstroker Payton Kelly of Calgary, Alberta.
Regarding her commitment, she said:
“I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Ball State! I would like to thank my family, teammates, coaches, and the coaching staff at BSU for making this all happen! GO CARDS!! #chirpchirp” [sic]
Kelly trains year-round with Cascade Swim Club and recorded five best times at the Edmonton Keyano Open back in February where she had five top-5 finishes. She was also the runner-up in the 100m back at the Western Canadian Championships in April 2019.
In Summer 2019, she placed sixth in the 100m back and 14th in the 50m free at Canadian Juniors before going on to finish 10th in the 50m back and 14th in the 100m back at the RBC Canadian Swimming Championships.
In LCM, her best times include:
- 50m back – 29.61
- 100m back – 1:04.08
- 200m back – 2:22.63
- 50m free – 26.93
- 100m free – 58.54
- 200m free – 2:08.84
In SCY, those times convert to:
- 50 back – 25.76
- 100 back – 56.29
- 200 back – 2:05.08
- 50 free – 23.72
- 100 free – 51.74
- 200 free – 1:53.89
Kelly will add valuable depth both individually and on relays when she arrives on campus as a member of the Class of 2026. She would’ve been their fourth-fastest 100 backstroker last season and will join a training group led by Shelby Crist, Sophia Kuehn, and Apsara Sakbun.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
