BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Union County’s Eva Whitehead won the 200-yard individual medley at the Oct. 28 Region 1-1A swim finals.
It was her second year in a row winning the title. She will now attempt to win her second straight state championship in the event when she competes at the Saturday, Nov. 8, Class 1A swim finals, which will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Ocala’s Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training venue, located at 4635 S.W. 67th Ave.
Whitehead, who was one of only two public-school swimmers in the event, finished with a time of 2:02.53, which put her ahead of Bolles’ Ella Gotham, who had a time of 2:03.43.
It was the same result at last year’s meet, with Whitehead placing ahead of fellow senior Gotham. The two swimmers would go on to place first and second at the 2024 state meet.
Whitehead qualified for this year’s state finals in the 100-yard breaststroke as well. She placed third at the Region 1 meet with a time of 1:04.58, which left her trailing Bolles’ Victoria Edgar, who won with a time of 1:03.06, and Bolles’ Grace Higdon, who had a time of 1:04.12. Bolles’ Ana LaRosa placed fourth with a time of 1:05.01.
As was the case with the 200 IM, Whitehead was one of only two public-school swimmers in the event.
Whitehead enters the state finals as the number-one seed in the 200 IM, which will consist of only one other public-school swimmer.
In the 100 breaststroke, Whitehead is the sixth seed behind Edgar, Windermere Prep’s Addison Bitel, NSU University School’s Naiyla Di Sarno, Kings Academy’s Tessa Broedell and Higdon.
The event will include two other public-school swimmers besides Whitehead.
Tickets to the state finals can be purchased via gofan.co. Cost is $13 in advance and $16 the day of the event. A $2 parking fee is included in the admission.
