BY MIKE WHITE
Staff Writer
CHRIS KELLY staff Jackson’s Kathleen Brown was part of the Jaguars’ 200-yard freestyle relay team that finished eighth at Saturday’s Ocean County Championships in Toms River. DOVER TOWNSHIP — For the majority of the Jackson High School girls swim team, last weekend’s Ocean County Championship meet was an opportunity to showcase their talents against some of the big names in the Shore Confer-ence.
And according to Jackson coach Janet Carbin, the Lady Jags handled themselves with poise and intensity. Jackson had a number of swimmers post personal-best times en route to a sixth-place overall finish at the Ocean County YMCA.
“I’m really proud of the way we came together and swam as a team,” Carbin said. “This was probably the biggest meet of their young lives. Our girls rose to the occasion and put forth a lot of top times. In a meet like this, you aren’t sure how the kids are going to react. They did an awesome job.”
Junior Brigid Rufo had an outstanding meet. Rufo was third in the 500-yard freestyle and sixth in the 200 free. Rufo shaved five seconds off her best time of the season in completing the 500 free in a time of 5:40.92.
“It was a great swim for her,” Carbin said.
“She has really progressed as a swimmer. I still feel she can get even better. I don’t think that we have seen her best time of the year. All her hard work is paying off nicely.”
Earlier in the meet, Rufo finished the 200-yard free with a time of 2:08.89. She also was a member of both the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay squads.
“She puts in a lot of time for us,” Carbin said. “We ask a lot of her, and she responds. She is the kind of kid every coach likes to have on the team. She has had a great season.”
Jackson began the meet by placing sixth in the 200 medley relay, Carbin said. The squad of Analise Mindas, Danielle Skurka, Rufo and Mel Francis posted a time of 2:06.91.
“It was a good way to start the event,” Carbin said.
“There were a lot of competitive teams out there, and I thought we put forth a solid effort. Anytime you can place in the first event, it gives the team a little boost.”
Francis later returned and finished sixth in the 50 free with a time of 27.71.
Taylor Fogarty was eighth in the 500 free in a time 6:06.26, while Skurka was eighth in the 100 breaststroke (1:17.44).
Kathleen Brown, Megan Maloney, Francis and Rufo placed eighth in the 200 free relay.
Senior Merry Link put forth a personal-best time of 1:22 in the 100 breastsroke, while freshman Sam Froelich had a personal best in the 100 back (1:12.6)
Jackson will host a novice meet Feb. 9 at the Ocean County YMCA for all swimmers in Ocean and Monmouth counties who did not qualify for the Shore Conference championships, Carbin said.
“This is the second year in a row we are hosting the meet,” Carbin said.
“We feel it is a neat event. We’ll have a number of quality swimmers competing. It should be a great event.”