County Record Broken by Madison Swimmer

The Madison High School girls swim team was not among the top finishing teams on Saturday at the Morris County Championships, but it had some strong individual performances, including a county record-breaking finish in the 400-meter freestyle event for junior Caroline Brennan. Madison took ninth overall at the meet out of 20.

The Madison girls struggled in the first event, but in the second girls event of the day Brennan took first in the 200 SC meter freestyle with a time of 2:12.35, earning 16 points for the Dodgers. Courtney McKinnon took sixth with a time of 2:15.80 in the event, earning an additional nine points for Madison.

"I knew I was seeded number one, but I didn't want to let it get to my head. Anyone in that event could have won," Brennan said. "I didn't expect to be seeded number one in two events either. We have a very fast county and I swim year round, so I know the competition."

Brennan's time in the 200-meter freestyle was a personal record by .21 seconds, but her old record would have still sufficed for a first place finish.

With two events scored, the Madison girls were in fifth place with 25 points. Chatham was leading with 58 points and Mountain Lakes was in second with 46.

"We have one of our biggest teams coming to county this year. We wanted to compete with some teams that we've been close to in the past, and we have been doing well so far," McKinnon said.

McKinnon earned three more points for Madison in the girls 100 meter butterfly, taking 10^th out of 42 with a time of 1:12.07.

With five events scored and six events to go, Madison was in ninth place out of 20 with 28 points. Chatham led with 127 and Mountain Lakes was in second with 101.5.

Brennan had the performance of the day for Madison, breaking a county record in the 400 meter freestyle previously held by Carissa McStay of Mount Olive from 2008. McStay's time was 4:35.95. Brennan clocked in at 4:35.20, almost a full seven seconds better than her previous best finish this year in the event.

"I didn't know I'd be going that fast, let alone set a county record," Brennan said. "It is the best time I've had all year, and lately I have not been swimming as fast as I hoped, so this was definitely a breakthrough … I've been working really hard in practice, so I guess my training is really paying off."

The Madison girls 200 meter freestyle relay team placed 10^th, earning six points. McKinnon, Brennan, Casey Reeve, and Courtney Halgren combined for a time of 2:03.32 in the event.

Madison finished the meet in ninth with 50 points. Chatham won with 215 points, and Mountain Lakes took second with 196.5.

The next Madison girls swim meet is on Monday, Feb. 1 at home against Montville at 4 p.m.