Ocean Girl’s Relay Swims State’s Fastest Time
Caruso, English, Biro, and Pembleton Set School Record in 400 Free
By ANDREW CANGIANO
Four swimmers from the Ocean Township Girls swim team set a school record with a time of 1:40.84 in the 400 yard freestyle relay at this years Shore Conference Championship Meet.
Their time in the 4×400 yard freestyle relay is currently the fastest in the state this year, Ocean Assistant Swim Coach Paul Looney said.
The quartet of Danielle Caruso, Kaitie English, Lauren Pembleton, and Holly Biro also swims two other relays together – the 4×200 yard freestyle relay and the 4×200 yard medley relay.
In fact, the four girls also set another school record at the Shore Conference meet, as they finished the 4×200 yard medley with a time of 152.22, helping the team to a second place overall finish.
Coaster Photo
The quartet of swimmers, (left to right) freshman Danielle Caruso and juniors Kaitie English, Lauren Pembleton, and Holly Biro set the Ocean Township High School record for the 4×400 yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:40.84. Their time is the fastest in the state this year for the event. The four will compete together in three relays in the Meet of Champions – the 400 yard free, the 200 yard free and the 200 yard medley; the girls will also swim a number of events individually in the meet.
Theyre all very dedicated, committed swimmers, Head Coach Bill Lynch said.
He said it is rare to have such a talented quartet of swimmers at one time.
Theyre a special group of kids, he said. People like this come along every 15 or 20 years.
The girls committ many hours a week to swimming not only for the high school, but also for their club teams, Lynch said.
The four girls will be competing in the three relay events at the state Meet of Champions on March 3-4. They have also qualified for the Meet of Champs in a number of individual events as well.
Danielle Caruso, a freshman , who swims the individual medley, 500 yard freestyle, and the 100 yard breastroke.
Along with the three relays, she will swim the 100 yard breastroke in the state Meet of Champions.
Caruso swam a season best 1:10.24 in the event at the state A-Central meet versus West Windsor Plainsboro South.
Danielle is a phenomenal swimmer, Looney said. Shes made a huge impact for a freshman.
Caruso has been aided by teammate Luci DiMaggio, as the two have pushed one another to do their best, Looney said. DiMaggio also qualified for the Meet of Champions in the 100 meter breastroke, as she has a personal best of 1:11.16 in the event.
Kaitie English, a junior, was the MVP of the Monmouth County Championsips this year, Looney said.
She also broke the 24 year old school record holder in the 100 yard fly with a time of 59.41 this season.
Holly Biro, also a junior, won the Monmouth County and Shore Conference Championships in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle.
Lauren Pembleton, the third junior, will be swimming the 100 yard backstroke at the Meet of Champions, along with the three relays. Her best time in the event was 1:01.3 at the Shore Conference Championships.
Pembleton is also a pitcher for the girls softball team.
The girls swim team won the A-North Division this year, advanced to the state A-Central semifinals, and is ranked third in the Shore, Looney said.
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