Joanna Wu continued to rise through the ranks last weekend.
Yet, Kent-Meridian High’s star swimmer, the one who has quickly become the program’s finest at her craft in more than a decade, still wants more.
Wu, a junior, established a pair of personal records on Saturday during the Class 4A state swim and dive meet at Federal Way’s King County Aquatic Center. The K-M sprinter grabbed a pair of second-place medals, one in the 100 free and another in the 200 free. In the 100 free, Wu touched out in 51.86 seconds, just behind Thomas Jefferson star Amber Cratsenberg (50.96). In the 200 free, Wu cruised to a time of 1:52.21, which was just short of winner Fiona Majeau (1:49.98) of Garfield.
And while Wu’s times were personal bests, the meet remains somewhat bittersweet.
“(My feelings) are mixed,” she said. “I was glad I got it over with, and I was also really happy I got my best times. (But) I think I could have done more, gone faster in my events.”
The two medals add to the haul Wu brought back from state last year, when she grabbed the first two of her prep career. The K-M standout took fifth in the 100 back a year ago (58.74) and seventh in the 200 free (1:55.29).
Despite making a bit step up in the 200, there was a point during the race when Wu appeared as though she might even move one step higher. At the third turn, Wu trailed Garfield’s Majeau 28.49-28.46.
“I think she started to notice me and picked up speed,” Wu said. “I went out with her, and that’s what I wanted to do. I knew she was going to go fast.”
Kent-Meridian hasn’t had a state champion in girls swimming since 1997, when the 200-yard medley relay team of Emily Woodworth, Hannah Jo, Melissa Rockwell and Susan Larson bagged the title with a time of 1:53.
Wu, a junior, still has time to reach that level.
Wu was Kent-Meridian’s lone swimmer at the meet. All by herself, Wu led the program to a 26th-place finish with 34 points, ahead of 17 other schools.
Coming within a fraction of a second of a state title was a nice step up, Wu admitted.
But more work remains to be done.
“I felt like it was another step forward, a good progression,” she said. “Next year, I have a feeling it will be even better.”
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