FENTON • The Parkway North swimming and diving team made school history on Thursday, and it hopes that carries over to next weekend.
The Vikings won their first Suburban South Conference championships on Thursday at Summit. Now, they shift their focus to the state swimming and diving championships, scheduled for next week.
Parkway North was dominant from the onset of the Suburban South championships. The Vikings won with 464 points followed by Parkway Central (379), Parkway West (302) and Kirkwood (287).
"Our top girls swam well here but our (No.) 2, 3 and 4 girls, that's what wins this meet," Parkway North coach Bart Prosser said. "(Conference) is more like bragging rights. It's our high school verses your high school. It's fun."
Parkway North's Heather Lundstrom continued a dominant season, winning the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events.
In the 200, Lundstrom was tested by Ladue standout Maddie Wall. Lundstrom won in 1 minute 52.98 seconds, while Wall was second in 1:53.82. Lundstrom was all alone in winning the 500 in 5:01.35.
"She's one of the best swimmers in the state," Prosser said. "She doesn't like to lose. That's her mentality. We're going to have to make some tough decisions about what she swims next week. We're up in the air because she has placed high in a lot of events."
The Vikings won both the 200 medley relay (1:51.77) and the 400 freestyle relay (3:41.09). Parkway North Amanda Stadermann also won the 100 butterfly (58.66).
Parkway North diver Natalie Grey won a close showdown with Parkway West's Francesca Giganti. Grey tallied 445.45 points to Giganti's 435.45.
Parkway West's Kate Gately also was a double winner, and she made it look easy. She posted the fastest times in the 50 (23.90) and the 100 (53.06) freestyle races.
"It felt good, so it's looking good going into state," Gately said. "I've gotten a lot faster in the 50."
Gately is the defending state champion in the 100 freestyle, and she finished fourth in the 50 freestyle.
"I'm looking to repeat in the 100, and, in the 50, who knows, " Gately said. "We're going to go in confident as a team and hopefully get some good swims and hopefully finish in the top five."
Parkway Central's Ally Neumann won a competitive 200 IM that featured eight state qualifying cuts in the race. Neumann won with a time of 2:11.05, followed by North's Stadermann (2:11.11). In the 100 breaststroke, Neumann came on strong down the stretch to win in 1:07.16.
Kirkwood's Rachel Kokenyesi won the 100 backstroke in 59.85. The Pioneers also had the winning 200 freestyle relay team with a time of 1:41.83.
