Josh Pendleton
INDIANAPOLIS — After making the finals in one event and the consolation heat in another, Josh Pendleton was looking for faster times and better placements in Saturday’s Boys Swimming and Diving State Finals.
The Columbus East sophomore ended up breaking his own school records in both events and claiming a pair of top-10 finishes.
“It was a fun meet,” Pendleton said. “Considering where I was in prelims, I moved up in both spots. It was really cool considering those athletes who had the records before. To get personal records is always great. I raced really well, and I can’t complain.”
In Friday’s prelims, Pendleton lowered the 200 freestyle record he set at last week’s Columbus North Sectional when he qualified 11th in 1 minute, 42.13 seconds. He bettered that Saturday’ going 1:41.79 to win the consolation heat and finish ninth.
“I was trying to get top eight, but I didn’t have my best swim (in the prelims),” Pendleton said. “So once I knew where I was, I just wanted to go out and win that heat.”
Pendleton had qualified seventh in the 500 freestyle with a 4:35.90 Friday. He moved up to sixth Saturday, going 4:32.58.
“I was hoping for a little bit higher finish and faster time, but there were a lot of good swimmers in that race,” Pendleton said. “It was a fast heat, and I think I did pretty well.”
Pendleton had qualified for state in the 500 freestyle last year as a freshman, finishing ninth.
“I think that probably helped, knowing I had been there before,” Pendleton said.
Meanwhile, Columbus North junior Dagan Kleffman finished 19th at state in the diving competition.
Kleffman was in 18th place with 164.10 after five dives, when the field was cut from 32 to 20. He was 19th with 248.30 after eight dives, when it was cut to the final 16, and he was 11.5 points out of the 16th and final qualifying spot.
