MECHANICSBURG — High expectations can be a problem for some athletes, but this winter, Addison Elliott of Lancaster Catholic has always responded to every challenge.
At the District Three Swimming Championships on Saturday, Elliott repeated as the Class 2A girls gold medalist in the 100-yard backstroke, backing up her top seed with a victorious 56.81. That was exactly her seed time, which earned her a Lancaster-Lebanon League record three weeks ago.
“Around the first turn, I really tried to push my underwater to get ahead of the two girls next to me,” Elliott said.
Her time was 28.00 at the midway point, 0.4 seconds behind Chloe Moore of York Suburban. Sam Kil of East Pennsboro — herself a gold medalist in Friday’s 100 butterfly — was second with a 58.36.
Cocalico’s Elle Fisher won the gold in the 100 breaststroke, finishing in 1:07.46. She had a small lead throughout, reaching the 50-yard mark at 31.07, and bested her previous PR by 2.21 seconds.
“I just wanted to go out really fast and get a good lead,” Fisher said. “I know I swim better when I’m out in front.”
![District 3 class 2A/3A swimming boys and girls swimming championships](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/5a/35aca558-d8b6-11ee-8efe-ef6b40770cdf/65e35ae71e704.image.jpg?resize=697%2C500)
Northern Lebanon's Collin Cheslock reacts after placing fifth and medaling in the 100 yard breaststroke during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
![District 3 class 2A/3A swimming boys and girls swimming championships](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/23/523423ae-d8b6-11ee-a099-0bbbd42afaa8/65e35b16f1a10.image.jpg?resize=604%2C500)
Garden Spot's Zach Delgado looks up at the results after finishing third in the 100 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
![District 3 class 2A/3A swimming boys and girls swimming championships](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/73/67321478-d8b6-11ee-b533-7b40086585a1/65e35b3a329a4.image.jpg?resize=596%2C500)
Manheim Central coach Heather Fittery gives a gold medal to Sam Kieffer after he won the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
![District 3 class 2A/3A swimming boys and girls swimming championships](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/94/294ed7e0-d8c5-11ee-ac7a-ef8f26a2da45/65e373fcca251.image.jpg?resize=582%2C500)
Lancaster Catholic's Addie Elliott takes a moment and smiles after winning the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
![District 3 class 2A/3A swimming boys and girls swimming championships](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/b5/5b53c5e8-d8c5-11ee-9b14-6be95d515da2/65e37450b683b.image.jpg?resize=696%2C500)
Lampeter-Strasburg's Zara Paisley reacts with surprise after taking second in the 100 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
![District 3 class 2A/3A swimming boys and girls swimming championships](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/26/72622dce-d8c5-11ee-b304-f7cf0ae35384/65e3747768898.image.jpg?resize=617%2C500)
Lancaster Catholic's Addison Elliott poses with her gold medal after winning the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
![District 3 class 2A/3A swimming boys and girls swimming championships](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/5b/75b2a7ec-d8c5-11ee-a536-77585cb84890/65e3747cf1618.image.jpg?resize=517%2C500)
Lancaster Catholic's Addison Elliott shakes hands with her competitors after winning the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
![District 3 class 2A/3A swimming boys and girls swimming championships](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/8d/78d0e10a-d8c5-11ee-9246-fb5a7c26ad31/65e3748235b2a.image.jpg?resize=561%2C500)
Lancaster Catholic's Addison Elliott gets a hug from her head coach Rebecca Carver after winning the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
![District 3 class 2A/3A boys and girls swimming championships](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/07/407ddba0-d8de-11ee-a4a5-d36242d8ebfc/65e39e1522ec4.image.jpg?resize=610%2C500)
Warwick assistant coach Scott Pusey gives the gold medal to Brody Reber after he won the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 3A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
![District 3 class 2A/3A boys and girls swimming championships](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/4a/b4aef8a4-d8f4-11ee-b3b5-9f915002f757/65e3c3c102035.image.jpg?resize=588%2C500)
Manheim Twp.'s Cami Schwartz (second place) left, and teammate Emilie Mosner (third place) in the 100 yard breaststroke during the District 3 class 3A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
2024 District 3 swimming championships - Day 2 [photos]
Cocalico's Nic Guthridge swims the first leg of the 400 yard frestyle relay during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Northern Lebanon's Collin Cheslock reacts after placing fifth and medaling in the 100 yard breaststroke during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Northern Lebanon's Collin Cheslock swims the 100 yard breaststroke during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Pequea Valley's Aidan Wanner swims the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Manheim Central's Sam Kieffer is all smiles after winning the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Manheim Central coach Missy Shelly cheers on Sam Kieffer as he swims the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Manheim Central's Sam Kieffer wins the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Garden Spot's Zach Delgado looks up at the results after finishing third in the 100 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Donegal's Colton Houck reacts after finishing second in the 100 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Cocalico's Evan Zeni swims the 100 yard breaststroke during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Pequea Valley's Ethan Wanner takes second in the 100 yard breaststroke during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Manheim Central's Anderson Pilsner comes off the blocks to swim the 100 yard nackstroke during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Manheim Centreal's Sam Kieffer with his gold medal for winning the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Manheim Central coach Heather Fittery gives a gold medal to Sam Kieffer after he won the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Cocalico's Elle Fisher poses with her gold medal after winning the 100 yard breaststroke during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Cocalico's Elle Fisher wins the 100 yard breaststroke during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Lancaster Catholic's Addie Elliott takes a moment and smiles after winning the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Lancaster Catholic's Addie Elliott swims the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Lancaster Catholic's Addie Elliott comes off the blocks to swim the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Lampeter-Strasburg's Maddy Juba swims the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Lampeter-Strasburg's Zara Paisley reacts with surprise after taking second in the 100 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Lampeter-Strasburg's Zara Paisley takes second in the 100 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Lampeter-Strasburg's Lilah Schwartz swims the 100 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Lancaster Catholic's Addison Elliott poses with her gold medal after winning the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Lancaster Catholic's Addison Elliott shakes hands with her competitors after winning the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Lancaster Catholic's Addison Elliott gets a hug from her head coach Rebecca Carver after winning the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 2A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Lebanon's Will Parker wins the 100 yard breaststroke during the District 3 class 3A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Manheim Twp.'s Cole Stevens swims the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 3A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Elizabethtown's Jack Ketchum swims the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 3A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Warwick's Brody Reber wins the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 3A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Ephrata's Ethan Lloyd swims the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 3A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Elizabethtown's Jack Ketchum comes off the blocks to swim the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 3A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Warwick's Brody Reber poses with his gold medal after he won the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 3A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Warwick assistant coach Scott Pusey gives the gold medal to Brody Reber after he won the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 3A boys swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Manheim Twp.'s Cami Schwartz takes second in the 100 yard breaststroke during the District 3 class 3A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Manheim Twp.'s Emilie Mosner takes third in the 100 yard breaststroke during the District 3 class 3A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Ephrata's Ava Knopsnyder is exhausted after winning the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 3A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Ephrata's Ava Knopsnyder wins the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 3A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Penn Manor's Dru Landis takes third in the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 3A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Warwick's Tenra Adams swims the 100 freestyle during the District 3 class 3A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Warwick's Adelaide Pusey comes off the blocks to swim the 100 yard backstroke during the District 3 class 3A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Manheim Twp.'s Cami Schwartz (second place) left, and teammate Emilie Mosner (third place) in the 100 yard breaststroke during the District 3 class 3A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Epharta's Ava Knopsnyder poses with her gold medal after winning the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 3A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Epharta's Ava Knopsnyder shakes hands with her competitors after winning the 500 yard freestyle during the District 3 class 3A girls swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday March 2, 2024.
- CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer
Emma Duffy of Bishop McDevitt, who was the top seed, finished second with a 1:08.64.
Melia van Zandt, Fisher’s teammate, placed fifth with a 1:13.95.
Though Lampeter-Strasburg did not have any gold medals, the Pioneers took four total medals of other hues on Saturday en route to a fourth-place finish in the team standings, with 191 points.
L-S’s 400 freestyle relay team of Lilah Schwartz, Kylie Gerhardt, Maddy Juba and Zara Paisley finished second with a 3:43.40. Top seed York Suburban won with a 3:37.99.
Paisley took a silver medal for herself by posting a 53.63 in the 100 freestyle, dropping 1.21 seconds off of her best time. It was the first time she reset her PR in two years. Pyta Billet of York Suburban led throughout and won the gold with a 53.10.
Gerhardt took fifth place in the 100 backstroke with a 1:01.59.
Juba added to the Pioneers’ medal haul with a sixth-place finish in the 500 freestyle, touching the wall at 5:40.57.
Schuylkill Valley won the team race with 291 points, ahead of York Suburban’s 286 and Boiling Springs’ 238. Cocalico was sixth with 137 points, which Lancaster Catholic was 12th with 70.
- DAVID BOHR FOR LNP | LANCASTER ONLINE
Class 3A
Ava Knopsnyder of Ephrata earned her second gold medal of the meet with a personal-best 4:57.68 in the 500 freestyle. It was the only sub-5:00 500 free in District Three all year, though second-place Maddy Coombs of Carlisle was second with 5 minutes flat.
Knopsnyder also won the 200 IM in Friday’s session, in which she led wire-to-wire, just like in Saturday’s 500.
“Yes, that’s 100% (where I feel most comfortable),” Knopsnyder said. “The wait gets me nerved up. My mindset is to go out right now. And now, my mindset is to get ready for states.”
Penn Manor’s Dru Landis was third in the event with a 5:05.23.
One of the closest matchups of the day, at least on the heat sheets, was the 100 breaststroke.
Manheim Township’s Emilie Mosner and Cami Schwartz, along with Wilson’s Emma Dougherty, were seeded within 0.07 seconds of each other. Dougherty was the third of the three on the sheet, but first in the race with a 1:03.66. Schwartz finished second with a 1:04.58, and Mosner was third in 1:04.69. Elizabethtown’s Morgan Conway took sixth place in 1:07.07.
Mosner and Schwartz teamed up with Grace Welsh and Anna Sassaman to get a bronze medal in the 400 free relay with a 3:38.95. Ephrata’s quartet of Knopsnyder, Allie Ludwig, Kaui Parsons and Cali Burkholder took fifth with a 3:40.91.
In the 100 free, Tenra Adams of Warwick placed sixth with a 53.05. Mia Parry of Garden Spot placed eighth with a 53.30.
Adelaide Pusey of Warwick took the seventh-place medal in the 100 backstroke with a 59.34.
- DAVID BOHR FOR LNP | LANCASTER ONLINE
- DAVID BOHR | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE
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