Martin scores win for NCMP at Ankeny Sprint Invitational

Nov. 22—ANKENY — Finn Martin posted a time in the 50-yard freestyle on Tuesday that was faster than what he swam at last year's state meet.

The career-best time was good enough for the win and Martin also finished second in another individual event during the Ankeny Sprint Invitational at Trail Point Aquatics Center on the campus of Des Moines Area Community College.

The Newton-Colfax-Mingo-Pella boys' swim team faced defending state champion Waukee, defending runner-up West Des Moines Valley and top-five finisher in Ankeny in the six-team field.

Waukee won the team title with 445 points, while Valley was the runner-up with 399 and Ankeny finished third with 348. Dowling Catholic (286), Southeast Polk (191) and NCMP (129) completed the field.

Martin's winning time in the 50 freestyle was a career-best 21.49 seconds. He went 21.55 and 21.63 at last year's state meet.

In the 50 butterfly, Martin was the runner-up in 23.8. Ankeny's Owen Schwebach won the race in 23.26.

The only other top-15 individual finish came from Ethan Comer in the 50 breaststroke. He finished 13th and posted a time of 31.07.

NCMP took eighth in the 200 freestyle relay, placed ninth in the 400 freestyle relay and finished 10th in the 200 medley relay.

In the 200 freestyle relay, the team of Martin, Caleb Punt, Comer and MacK Copeland posted a time of 1 minute, 37.26 seconds in eighth. Waukee won the race in 1:29.36.

The team of Martin, Drew Fuller, Mason Gaulke and Copeland placed ninth in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:40.92. Valley won the race in 3:15.44.

Fuller, Comer, Gaulke and Punt were 10th in the 200 medley relay in 1:53.78. Waukee's winning time was 1:38.45.