Pacers take aim at records

By Bill Stewart

The Lake Oswego Review, Dec 13, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Vern Uyetake / Lake Oswego Review

Lakeridge’s Julia Dahl takes a breath during one of her races in Tuesday’s dual meet against West Linn. Last week in a meet against Redmond, Dahl was part of a medley relay team that set a new school record with a time of 1:54.76. Also joining Dahl on that team were Emily Lightcap, Amy Wiley and Lydia Burris.

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Lakeridge swim coaches Justin Lindsey and Robert Wilson recently saw something happen which had only occurred once before in their eight years of being involved with the team.

A school record was broken in a dual meet. Records falling is not a particularly uncommon things, especially given Lakeridge’s recent success in the pool. However, when that record is shattered in the first dual meet of the season, before swimmers are traditionally in the best shape, it’s a rare occurrence.

So rare, that the only other time it has happened in eight years was in 2001 when Wilson’s sister Emily did it.

But, in the very first race of the season against Redmond, the Lakeridge girls 200 medley relay team of Emily Lightcap, Amy Wiley, Lydia Burris and Julia Dahl bested the three-year old school record with a blistering time of 1:54.76, beating Redmond’s top relay team by over 18 seconds.

Ironically, the record had been held by a team that included Burris’ older sister Jessica.

“To set a school record in a preseason dual meet is unheard of. It’s quite an accomplishment,” Lindsey said.

Needless to say, the record-breaking swim got the Pacers off to a terrific start which helped both teams win the dual meet.

The girls won handily, 107.5-59.5 and received good swims from virtually everyone on the team.

Freshman Wiley was impressive, capturing the 50 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke, an event in which she could be among the best in the state by the season’s end.

“She’s one of the fastest in the state in the breaststroke and could make the finals,” Lindsey said.

Burris and Dahl are also two premiere sprinters for the Pacers which means that its freestyle relay could be one of the best in the state as well. It also means that other school records are likely in danger this year.

Lakeridge’s top distance swimmer, Emily Lightcap, dominated the 500 freestyle, winning by nearly 35 seconds in a time of 5:22.37.

“We have three or four girls who are looking to be swimming on the second day at state. For Emily, there’s not a race long enough for her. She’s a miler and so the 500 is like a sprint for her,” Lindsey said.

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