By The Hays Daily News

SALINA -- The Hays High School girls' swimming team posted a state consideration time in its first meet of the season Thursday at Salina South High School.

The Indians' 400-yard freestyle relay placed fifth with a consideration time of 4 minutes, 40.69 seconds. The relay's members included senior Courtney Hess, junior Mackenzie Lewis, sophomore Shelbie Berens and senior Courtney Kaba.

As a team, Hays High placed fifth out of seven teams.

Hess was Hays High's top individual finisher, placing fourth in the 200 IM and 500 freestyle in 2:50.79 and 6:40.79, respectively. Berens got fifth in the 200 IM in 2:53.83, and Arin Straub was fifth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:29.39.

The 200 freestyle relay, consisting of Kaba, senior Jessica Carreira, Straub and sophomore Emily McPherson, finished fifth in 2:07.84. The 200 medley relay, which included Berens, Straub, Kaba and Hess, was sixth.

Marcotte paces TMP

Thomas More Prep-Marian senior Maria Marcotte was the Monarchs' best swimmer at Salina South.

TMP was seventh at the meet, but Marcotte pulled out two top-eight finishes. She placed sixth in the 100 freestyle in 1:09.33 and eighth in the 200 IM in 3:01.29.