The Viking girls held a scant five-point lead over Harnett Central before their two 400-yard relay teams came in first and second in the final event of the meet.
Elizabeth Tem was a member of two winning relay teams and won the 500-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke events individually. Her total of 48 points in the meet earned her MVP honors.
Harnett Central won the boys championship by a wide margin over second-place Southern Lee. Union Pines finished fourth out of the six teams. Matt Fry was first in the 200-yard individual medley for the Vikings.
The Viking girls got off to a flying start.
The meet began with Tem, Kelly Frost, Shannon Russell and Emily Michaels combining to win the 200-yard medley relay. Then Rebecca Zielinsky won the 200-yard freestyle, Michaels was first in the 200-yard individual medley and Russell took the 50-yard freestyle.
Triton’s Amanda Wolf won the 100-yard butterfly, but the Vikings’ Mel Minery and Mikayla Deerdorff took the second and third spots.
Tem’s two individual wins, coupled with the performance of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that also included Frost, Russell and Michaels, enabled the Vikings to hold off Harnett Central.
Other strong performances for the Viking boys were a second in the 100-yard breaststroke by Phillip Allen, a third by Fry in the 100-yard freestyle and a third by the 200-yard freestyle relay team.
Team results
Girls — Union Pines 333, Harnett Central 312, Triton 268, South Johnston 125, Southern Lee 77, Gray’s Creek 14. Boys — Harnett Central 303, Southern Lee 196, Triton 156, Union Pines 112, South Johnston 69, Gray’s Creek 0.
Individual winners
Girls
200 medley relay — Union Pines A 2:10; 200 freestyle — Zielinsky (UP) 2:40; 200 individual medley — Michaels (UP) 2:22; 50 freestyle — Russell (UP) 28.7; 100 butterfly — Wolf (TR) 1:18; 100 freestyle — Harvell (HC) 1:06; 500 freestyle — Tem (UP) 6:05; 200 freestyle relay — Harnett Central 2:03; 100 backstroke — Tem (UP) 1:10; 100 breaststroke — West (TR) 1:24; 400 freestyle relay — Union Pines 4:15.
Boys
200 medley relay — Harnett Central 1:57; 200 freestyle — Raisey HC) 2:19; 200 individual medley — Fry (UP) 2:30; 50 freestyle — Bryan (HC) 22.9; 100 butterfly — Bryan (HC) 55.7; 100 freestyle — Johnson (SL) 1:02; 500 freestyle — Bagby (HC) 5:37; 200 freestyle relay — Harnett Central 1:53; 100 backstroke — Raisey (HC) 1:11; 100 breaststroke — Penner (HC) 1:15; 400 freestyle relay — Harnett Central – 3:52.
