CAMBRIDGE — Central Catholic senior David Kitchen made no attempt to hide his excitement last night.
“This was definitely the best performance of my high school career!” he said. “I am psyched.”
Kitchen earned victory in the 200 IM and placed third in the 100 breaststroke to lead Central at the Division 1 boys swimming championship at Harvard University.
“I was just going for a personal best in the IM, and I ended up winning the event,” said Kitchen. “Being able to get my personal best, and be able to stand at the podium and see my family cheer me on was pretty special.”
Seeded third in the event, Kitchen won the 200 IM in 2:58.01, crushing his personal best (2:01.96). He followed that up with his third in the 100 breaststroke in 1:00.80. He also swam on the 200 medley relay that was 10th and the 400 freestyle relay that took 15th. Central Catholic placed 14th as a team.
The region’s other first-place finish came courtesy of Andover’s Eric Zhao, who won the 100 freestyle. He also finished sixth in the 200 freestyle.
“He swam another excellent race,” said coach Mark Taffe, who did not have the times immediately available.
Also starring for Andover was diver Alex Blake, who took third overall. He was seeded fifth entering the meet. The Golden Warriors were seventh as a team. Haverhill diver Sam Clough placed 12th overall, leading the Hillies.
Division 1 State Swim Meet
Local placers:
200 medley relay: 10. Central Catholic; 200 freestyle: 6. Eric Zhao (And), 15. Aaron Wu (A); 200 IM: 1. David Kitchen (Central Catholic) 1:58.01, 14. Dan Lefebvre (CC) 2:04; Diving: 3. Alex Blake (A), 12. Sam Clough (Haverhill), 15. Jack Belluche (A); 100 butterfly: 3. Kitchen (CC) 1:00.80; 100 freestyle: 1. Zhao (A); 500 freestyle: 16. Wu (A); 100 backstroke: 11. Lefebvre (CC) 56.01; 400 freestyle relay: 15. Central Catholic
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