Special to the Picayune

Westlake’s Samantha Tucker won the junior national championship in the 100-yard freestyle at last weekend’s USA Swimming Speedo Short Course Junior National Championships held at the University of Texas Swim Center. 

Tucker set a meet record with a time of 48.71 seconds in the event. She also won bronze in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4.43:87.

Camille Hendrix qualified for the B finals of the 100   freestyle with a personal-best time of 51.24. 

Hendrix and Tucker were both part of the third-place 400 freestyle relay team and the sixth-place 200 free style relay team. Tucker also anchored the fifth-place 800 freestyle relay team.

All teams swim for Longhorn Aquatics.

In addtion to Tucker and Hendrix, Westlake swimmers Katie Scarsella, Julie Gutierrez, Ruthie Norval, Mary Beck, Matt Ellis, Eric Dirvin and David Cox also competed in the event. 

To qualify for this competitive national level meet, swimmers must have met stringent time standards and be 18 years of age or younger. There were top swimmers from almost 200 teams from around the country competing in the event.