Dawson's Wu brings home two silver medals

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Click to enlarge.

SILVER MEDALIST - Dawson junior Catherine Wu captured two silver medals at the UIL 4A state swim meet in Austin. Wu finished second in the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard butterfly to bring home the only two medals for the Lady Eagles. Wu set new personal bests in both events. She recently broke her own records in these two events at the Region 6 swim meet. Wu won Dawson's first swim medal two years ago when she won a bronze in the 100-yard back. (Photo by Kim Gurry)

AUSTIN — Catherine Wu won the very first medal for Dawson at the 4A state swim meet in 2012 as a freshman when she brought home a bronze medal for her third place finish in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 57.45. The young swimmer also placed 9th in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 59.52.

As a junior, Wu recently returned home with two more medals, this time for her second place finish in both the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard butterfly.

Prior to the 2014 state swim meet, Wu was named as the top girls swimmer at the Region 6-4A meet. Wu broke her own regional record in the 100-yard backstroke (56.37) and set a new regional record in the 100-yard butterfly (57.07). She was also named top swimmer at the District 24-4A meet.

At the state swim meet this past weekend, Wu finished third in the prelims in the 100-yard back with a time of 56.15 which is a personal best. She was fifth in the prelims in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 57.87 which is also a personal best.

Click to enlarge.

SILVER MEDALIST - Dawson junior Catherine Wu captured two silver medals at the UIL 4A state swim meet in Austin. Wu finished second in the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard butterfly to bring home the only two medals for the Lady Eagles. Wu set new personal bests in both events. She recently broke her own records in these two events at the Region 6 swim meet. Wu won Dawson's first swim medal two years ago when she won a bronze in the 100-yard back. (Photo by Kim Gurry)

Wu really stepped it up in the finals to finish second in the state in the 100-yard back with a time of 55.69 to capture the silver medal. She was just behind state champion junior Destiny Nelson of Prosper who won the gold medal with a time of 54.93.

In the 100-yard butterfly finals, Wu once again found another gear moving from fifth place in the prelims to a second place finish in 57.51. Freshman Victoria Garcia of El Paso finished in first place in 56.99.

The 200-yard Medley Relay team of Wu, freshman Morgan Hall, sophomore Kimberly Fucanan, and junior Skyler Lewis placed 13th in 1:54.51 that earned the Dawson girls eight team points.

The 200-yard free relay foursome of senior Summer Lewis, Fucanan, Alex Morano, and Lewis also placed 13th in 1:43.79 for another eight team points.

Dawson girls placed 16th in the state with 50 total points.

Top