Girls Athlete of the Week: Jessica Cronin

Westfield junior Jessica Cronin is the kind of swimmer any coach would love to have -- a leader, an athlete willing to do anything to help her team succeed.
Thursday was a great example.

Cronin set a school record in the 100 backstroke, swam first leg on the third-place medley relay team, and set a personal best in the 500 free, placing fourth.

All of those points helped the Blue Devils beat Bridgewater-Raritan 97-73 in the North 2 Public A title meet. The Blue Devils will meet the North 1 winner Tuesday.

Cronin is this week’s Westfield Patch Female Athlete of the Week.

The medley relay helped the Blue Devils get off to a strong start where they outscored Bridgewater-Raritan in four of the first five events to take command. Cronin’s leadership was part of it.

“She’s a great girl, always with a smile on her face,’’ said Westfield coach Jeff Knight. “She has done a great job.’’

Cronin clocked a 1:00.14 in the back, eclipsing Kylie Frasier’s 2007 mark of 1:00.60.

She set a personal mark in the 500 of 5:23, taking five seconds off her best. She swam a 28.2, leading off the medley team that was followed by Margo Fleisher, Erika Daniel and Loren Ball.

“Jessica cares for team,’’ said Knight. “I can put her in any event and she’ll say ‘no problem.’ She does anything necessary for team. That is what you look for as a coach.’’