Over 26 high school girl swim teams from all over the state participated in one of the biggest swim meets of the year at the Columbia, Missouri Invitational at the University of Missouri on Jan. 3.

Girl swimmers from all over Missouri met to compete in the COMO invitational .They came to this meet with goals in mind. Not only to excel at the meet but also to set personal records, break school records, and to achieve the ultimate goal of making it to state in St.Louis on Feb. 20.

The girls’ swim team had a rare occurrence of having two girls break a school record at the same meet, in back to back heats both Jessica Dillon and Taylor Felz broke the school record in the 100 yard. breaststroke . Felz broke the school record with a time of 1:18.11. Soon after in the following heat, Dillon broke Felz’s school record with a time of 1:16.17, beating her personal record and her previous school record of 1:18.16.

“It felt great breaking the school record. I had no idea that Taylor beat my previous school record I held, I thought I had just beat my personal record until I talked to Majors and he said Taylor broke my record,”  said Dillon.

Breaking school records is not an easy task to accomplish. It takes hard-work, dedication and lots of time practicing in the pool in order to be able to hold a school record.

“The records are not easy to beat, it takes hard work at practice to set school records,” said varsity swim coach Matt Majors.

Having not one but two girls that are so close in the same event can help provide support and competition for one another, which can help them push each other in races and at practice.

“Having someone so close in times helps us push harder, especially when we are racing at the same time instead of different heats. It’s good always having someone to try to beat and even more fun when your friends as well,” said Dillon.

Both swimmers are looking forward to keep pushing each other in practices in order to make the ultimate goal of state, not only in the 100 meter breaststroke, but other events as well.

“I expect for at least two of our relays to qualify for State, hoping for Taylor to qualify in 100 free, and Jessica in the 100 Breast,” said swim coach Matt Majors.

Dillon is only six seconds away from making state in the 100 yard breaststroke. However, Dillon is battling with an injury which may hold her back from making state this year.

“I think I could make state this year if I worked hard enough, but with having an injury I’m not exactly sure if I do not make it this year then I definitely will next year,” said Dillon.

With only a few meets left, the girls swim team is working hard at practice to cut down on their times in order to qualify for as many events as possibly at state.  The next chance the girls have to qualify for state is Feb. 7 at the Conference Championship at Lee’s Summit High School.