Written by: Kit Raulerson
1/7/2009 7:25 PM

Sarah Henry began her 2009 Junior Pan Pacifics experience with a fantastic opening swim.  Sarah improved over 1.5 seconds in her 200 meter freestyle to finish 5th in the morning prelims.  The rules of the competition only allow 2 athletes per country to advance to the Final 8 at night and only 1 per country into the consolation heat at night.  Subsequently, Sarah is listed as finishing 19th though her time was 5th out of all competitors and 4th among American athletes.  Her performance may be enough to gain a spot on the 800 free relay later in the meet!  Sarah split her race with a very controlled 29-30-30-30 for each 50.

Sarah had another great preliminary morning with a LTB in the 100 meter breaststroke of 1:10.74, good for 9th place in prelims.  Sarah then finished 4th among all entrants in the 400im, but 3rd among Americans so she was placed in 9th with a 4:47.92 - a LTB, a new RSA 15-16 women and RSA senior women record, and a new NCS 15-16 record.  Tonight's finals look imposing with a possible 100breast-400IM-800free relay triple - good luck Sarah!

Sarah survived the triple, highlighted by a come-from-behind consolation final victory of 4:45.92 in the 400IM - another LTB and new RSA record for 15-16 women and Open women and another NCS record for 15-16 women, 15-18 women, and Senior women.  Of note was Sarah's breaststroke split leg within the IM of 1:17 - no one in the field was under 1:22 and at the 2008 Olympic Final only Rice and Hoff had faster breaststroke splits within the 400IM.

Sarah followed up yesterday with two more LTB's in prelims and consols of the 100 fly, lowering her personal best from 1:03.20 to 1:02.17 in the morning and then again to 1:01.68 in finals to win the consolation heat.  Sarah also anchored the B 4 x 100 free relay with a split of 57.00.

Sarah wrapped up her meet with a new RSA 15-16 and RSA Open and NCS 15-16 women's record of 2:16.62 in the 200 meter IM.  Sarah also qualified for her first A final of the meet in the 200 breaststroke and finished 7th in the event.  All told, Sarah set 5 new NCS records and 6 RSA records and recorded 6 LTB's at the meet.  Sarah currently holds 14 NCS records!

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