More all-state swim honors for O'Reilly

Kaitlyn O'Reilly placed 4th in 200 medley and 7th in 100 backstroke at state (photo by Jim Lindquist)

For the third straight year Kaitlyn O'Reilly had shown she is one of the best high school swimmers in Minnesota.

In Saturday's 2012 Class AA Championships at the University of Minnesota Aquatics Center, O'Reilly placed fourth in the 200 individual medley and seventh in the 100 backstroke to earn all-state honors in both events.

The speedy Tiger junior clocked 57.88 in the 100 back and broke her own school record in the individual medley with a finishing time of 2:04.66.

O'Reilly finished third and seventh respectively in the same races at the 2011 Class AA state meet. She took eighth in the 100 backstroke in the 2010 state meet.

"It was an exciting state meet all around," coach Jen Marshall said. " Kaitlyn had a great swim in the medley and did what she needed to do in the back."

The 200 freestyle relay team of O'Reilly, Robin Ellis, Cora Ruzicka and Kirsten Kracke turned in the next highest finish for the Tigers, ranking 15th in 1:39.25.

 "The relay swimmers came back a little stronger in finals and it was a great way to round out the meet... I'm proud of what they accomplished this season."

The 200 freestyle relay team finished 15th

Kracke tied for 18th place in the 100 freestyle in 54.24 and the 400 freestyle relay foursome of O'Reilly, Ruzicka, Kracke and Ellie Sundet came in 19th in 3:42.13.

As a team the Tigers totaled 31 points to rank 19th among 43 teams scoring points, slightly down from their school-record 72 points and 13th place finish a year ago but still the third-best Farmington showing at state.