Staples Swimmers Continue to Break Records ahead of Sunday’s Championships in Hartford

Contributed by Susana De Pinho

Staples girls swimming broke four state records Wednesday night at the class LL state finals at SCSU. Freshman Annam Olasewere rewrote the state and class LL record books in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle. The Staples freshman wowed the crowd with a time of 22.67 in the 50 yd freestyle breaking the 2016 record of 23.02. Olasewere also took the 100 yd freestyle in record time with a blistering 50.14.

Staples, which placed fourth, also saw two of its relays finish first in record times. The 200 freestyle relay team of Jessica Qi, Ella Alpert, Ayaan Olasewere and Annam Oleseree broke the 25 year state record with a time of 1:35.75. Qi, Alpert, Ayaan and Annam Olasewere came back to win the 400 freestyle relay in yet another state record time of 3:28.54.

Other top finishers included freshman Ayaan Olasewere placing 6th in the 50 yd free (24:66) and 7th in the 100 yd free with a time of 54.18. Senior captain Jessica Qi swam to a third place finish in the 100 free (52.75) and 4th in the 200 yd free(1:55.85). Senior captain Ella Alpert scored 8th in the 100 yd backstroke (1:00.76) and placed fifth with a 57.87 in the 100 yd fly.

Staples will defend its state records this coming Sunday at the State Open Championships in West Hartford.