Elizabethown’s John Hayes accomplished a rare feat during the Pannell Swim Shop/KHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of Kentucky’s Lancaster Aquatic Center on Saturday night.
The sophomore won each of his individual events, despite being matched against three swimmers from longtime juggernaut St. Xavier in both. Hayes won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:26.37, finishing nearly two seconds ahead of St. Xavier’s Jack Anderson. Hayes also won the event at last year’s state championships, which were held at the University of Louisville’s Ralph Wright Natatorium.
Hayes also bested Anderson in the 200 freestyle. Last year he finished third.
“It feels amazing to get both of those. Honestly, I had a lot of nerves coming into this meet. I wasn’t sure how it was gonna go,” Hayes said. “I had the flu at the beginning of the year and that really hit me hard. But after getting in the water and having a good regional meet I told myself, ‘There’s nothing to lose. Just dive in and have fun. I know the people I’m racing, they’re my friends, so just dive in and see what happens.’”
“I train with a decent amount of those St. X swimmers. So I think having those guys by my side being my friends but also being my rivals is a lot of fun.”
Hayes is taking an ambitious approach to the second half of his high school career.
“I want to see if I can win the 500 four years in a row and see if I can get the 200 three years in a row. From here on out it’ll really be a push to see if I can get the state records.”
St. Xavier won the team title Saturday during the KHSAA Boys’ State Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of Kentucky. Matt Goins
Same as it ever was
A pair of upperclassmen led St. Xavier to its 32nd straight boys’ title. Senior Will Cole broke the state record in the 100 backstroke with a time of :46.92. Cole, who’s committed to Virginia, also won the 100 freestyle. St. X junior Holden Smith also won both of his individual events, the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly.
Cole anchored the Tigers’ 400 freestyle relay title team for the fourth year in a row. The Tigers won all three relay events on Saturday.
Henry Clay’s Jackson Millard, who swam the backstroke during the boys’ 200-yard individual medley Saturday during the state championships, finished third. Matt Goins
Sweep spoiler
Henry Clay sophomore Jackson Millard finished third in the 200 individual medley on Saturday, preventing St. Xavier from sweeping the top three spots. Tigers’ swimmers came in first, second, fourth and fifth in the event.
“It felt great. I’m just excited that I got to get in between them and not let them go 1-2-3-4 in the race,” said Millard.
Millard also finished fifth in the 100 backstroke. Henry Clay Coach Daniel Porter believes Millard can easily become a champion before his time with the team is finished.
“He’s incredibly talented and very raw. For him to go as fast as he does, there’s still several things that we can improve,” Porter said. “Over the next two years it’s going to be really exciting to see how high he can go. He’s a great kid and a great teammate. ... The sky’s the limit.”
Brotherly love
Scott County senior Kaleb Brannock had a special send-off in his final race as a Cardinal. After finishing fourth in the 100 butterfly, he came in second in the 100 backstroke.
“He’s had some great swims this meet. Personal bests in both the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke,” said Scott County Coach Jeremy Fink. “So I can’t ask for anything more for him. I’ve been truly blown away by what he’s done this season.”
While the second-place finish was gratifying, it carried extra sentimental value because Brannock’s younger brother, Kole, was competing in the event just a few lanes away.
St. Xavier’s Holden Smith launched his victory in the 100-yard butterfly at UK’s Lancaster Aquatic Center on Saturday. He also won the 200 individual medley. Matt Goins
“It was really cool, we’ve been racing against each other all season. I can’t even tell you how many meets it’s been where I look at the heat sheet and our lanes are right next to each other,” said Kaleb Brannock. “It was good to do it one last time.”
Kole Brannock, who finished eighth in the race, agreed.
“It was nice to just have one last race where I could get beat by him one more time,” Kole said with a laugh.
Josh Sullivan has worked at the Herald-Leader for more than 10 years in multiple capacities, including as a news assistant, page designer, copy editor and sports reporter. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and a Lexington native.Support my work with a digital subscription
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