EVANSTON, Illinois, November 17. OLIVIA Smoliga of Glenbrook South High School broke two overall national high school records today at the Illinois state championships, erasing marks in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke.
Smoliga became the first sub-22 second female swimmer in high school history in the 50 free, posting a 21.99 in the final. She broke three-time Olympian Kara Lynn Joyce's former public school and overall record of 22.04 (swum as a relay leadoff) in 2002. In prelims, Smoliga swam a 22.21.Maddy Schaefer of St. Francis still holds the independent national mark with a 22.24.
Watch the 50 free race, with video courtesy Marcia Cleveland:
Smoliga wrapped up her senior year with a blazing 51.43 in the 100 backstroke, erasing 2012 Olympian Rachel Bootsma's public and overall record of 51.53 from 2010. Smoliga had made a run for the record in prelims, but came up short with a 51.84. Missy Franklin's independent record of 52.30 still remains.
100 back race:
Smoliga also teamed with Bailey Moynihan, Niki Wells and Katie Wells to chase the public and overall national high school record 1:32.75 by Carmel High in the 200 freestyle relay. The Glenbrook girls posted a 1:32.98. Also, Katie Wells, Moynihan, Smoliga and Kelly Cordes attempted to erase the national public school record of 3:22.85 in the 400 free relay set by Hershey in 2011, but came up short with a 3:24.50.
200 free relay:
400 free relay:
Smoliga will give Jack Bauerle plenty of racing options next fall when she steps onto campus at the University of Georgia.