Community won the Intercity swimming and diving meet, nine points ahead of the Normal West Wildcats, Thursday, Oct. 7 with a team score of 546 points.

Freshman Kenna Malinowski was instrumental in the team’s victory, as she celebrated individual wins in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events and anchored the team’s winning 200-yard freestyle relay.

Malinowski posted a 200 freestyle time of 2:01.86, 1.39 seconds ahead of U-High senior Olivia Haerr.

In the 100, Malinowski’s time of 52.92, .06 seconds off of the State qualifying time, put her ahead of Haerr for a second time in the meet.

In the shorter race, Malinowski led Haerr by 2.52 seconds.

Malinowski wasn’t concerned with her individual success against the U-High senior, her main goal “was really just … to get points for my team,” she said.

In the individual events, Malinowski scored 40 points for Community and swimming anchor on two relays, she helped contribute another 74. 

Community’s 200-yard freestyle team of Nina Osborne (’23), Meghan Kilcoin (’23),  Larissa Harr (’22), and Malinowksi finished the event with a time of 1:43.7, 1.87 seconds ahead of the Wildcats. 

Malinwoski led her team with a split of 24.29 seconds. 

The West Wildcats were responsible for Malinowski’s only second place finish in the competition — in the 200-yard medley relay, West recorded a time of 1:56.97, .02 seconds ahead of Community. 

Malinowski entered the pool more than two seconds behind West’s anchor swimmer —  but her event-best split of 23.86 fell short of what her teammates — Kilcoin, Harr and Avani Rai (‘23) — needed to beat the Wildcats.

Swimming the race’s anchor leg for West, was junior Claire Malinowski, Kenna’s cousin.

Despite the loss, competing against her cousin and former teammate on the B/N Swim Club, “is always fun,” Kenna Malinowski said.

Leading her team to an Intercity win as a freshman, Kenna said “is amazing — my team support[s] me everyday.”

Community’s Intercity victory was a team effort, with upperclassmen Nina Osborne, Larissa Harr, and Meghan Kilcoin all serving as key contributors. 

In addition to the 200 freestyle relay, Osborne took 1st in the 500 yard freestyle (5:26.07), 4th in the 200 freestyle (2:05.04), and contributed to a 3rd place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

In the individual events, Harr placed 3rd in both the 50-yard freestyle (26.92) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:13.43).

Kilcoin finished the 50 free behind Harr in 4th (27.16) before taking 4th in the 100-yard backstroke (1:06.42).

After the Intercity win, Kenna Malinowski and her teammates are looking for wins at the Big 12 Conference and Sectional meets. 

Community plays host to the Big 12 Conference meet on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m.