Roy races to record win in backstroke
Sylvia Roy accomplished a feat during the PIAA Class 3A swimming and diving championships that rivaled the achievement of Roger Bannister.
While Bannister was the the first runner to complete a mile run in four minutes or less in 1954, Roy became the first female Pennsylvania scholastic swimmer to complete the 100-yard backstroke in 53 seconds or less.
In defending her title on Day 2 of the competition held at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium, the Mt. Lebanon junior clocked a 52.90. The time shattered the state record of 53.08 set in 2014 by Hershey’s Meaghan Raab. The mark was also nearly two seconds faster than the time of 54.06 submitted by silver medalist Alexa Conner from Lower Merion.
“We knew that state record was possible but we knew she also had to go 52,” said Lebo skipper Tom Donati. “That’s a big barrier. Like the four-minute mile,” he added.
“We saw she was going to win and we knew that she would be close. When she hit the wall, everybody was like ‘wow, unbelievable’ when the announcer said that’s a new state record. To hear that is such a rush. It was so emotional but Sylvia’s just like steady Eddie. She just gets ready for her next one.”
Roy’s next race was the 200-meter backstroke. She traveled to Buffalo this weekend in an attempt to earn a qualifying time for the U.S. Olympic Trials. She already had earned her berth in the 100 back for the national competition to select the team to compete in Paris. The Olympic Trials are set for June 15-23 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
“Sylvia is right there,” Donati said of the 200-meter time. “She is just so far ahead of and shoulders above most others.”
During the PIAA championships, Roy was one of only two WPIAL swimmers to bring home gold medals in Class 3A. She just missed being a two-time champion when State College sophomore Molly Workman won the 50 freestyle in 22.67 seconds. Roy took the silver for the second year in a row with a 22.90 mark.
Donati noted that Roy was a tenth off the state record during the morning preliminaries but did not swim a perfect race in the finals.
“In the 50, there is no room for error. You have to hit all three components (start, turn and finish). Sylvia was okay off the blocks but not as sharp on the turn. Her walls are getting better. We are working on them.
“Give (Molly) credit. That girl was good. Better,” said Donati.
With her senior season remaining, Roy is only going to improve, too, Donati added, particularly when she matriculates to Virginia in the fall of 2025. “They are going to love her,” he said, “and clean up some things with her.”
Roy helped the Blue Devils clean up in the 200 free relay. She combined with Lillyan Evan, Helen Albu and Ellie Rienhart for a sixth-place medal in the event.
“This year was definitely more special than past years. Not just from the state record alone but also this team made it really special,” Roy said. “I was happy enough and be glad to be up on that podium but I’m also so proud of our relay for medaling because those girls all work hard and deserve it so much.”
The only other individual Lebo medalists were Ryan Frank and Malcolm Thomspon.
A senior, Frank took third (55.43) in the 100 breaststroke while Thompson, a junior, placed eighth in diving.
Other individual medalists at states from the Almanac readership area included:
• Nazar Zoukovski. The Upper St. Clair sophomore placed third and fifth in the 100 and 200 free. He also helped the 400 free relay team of Max Shipley, Whit Burns and Ben Whiteford to a sixth-place showing. The 200 free relay scored seventh. USC’s medley relay added sixth.
• Kaitlyn Connors. The USC senior registered fourth and sixth in the 100 and 50 free races. The Duquesne recruit combined with Kendell Drew, Freja Kile and Amanda Adair for seventh in the 200 free relay.
• Zoe Poe. The South Fayette senior secured sixth in the 500 free.