By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Despite facing off against much bigger schools throughout the 2026 season, Hayden junior Kaelyn Gerdel has established herself as one of the area's top girls swimmers.
Hayden junior Kaelyn Gerdel was a double winner in Wednesday's Hayden Invitational swimming meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And Gerdel stepped up her game a couple of more steps in Wednesday's Hayden Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, recording a pair of personal records on the way to a sweep of her individual events.
Gerdel was the top seed in the 200 free by only a fraction of a second and was seeded second in the 100 breaststroke by .37 of a second, but won the 200 by 1.30 seconds in a time of 2 minutes, 12.32 seconds and cruised to a win in the 100 breast by more than four seconds while improving her personal best by nearly two seconds in 1:16.48.
"I do look (at seed times), but I try not to let it get to me,'' Gerdel said. "I just kind of see like where everyone is at, where I'm at and who I can pace with to hopefully get a better time."
Gerdel said that improving her times is always a major priority.
"I've dropped a good amount of time in both my main races,'' said Gerdel, who has already qualified for state in both the 200 free and 100 breast. "I want to get my 200 free faster so I can get higher up on the list (for state seeds) and get my breast down, too.''
A state qualifier as a sophomore, Gerdel has her sights set on a Class 5A-1A medal or two in next month's state meet in Overland Park.
"That is a huge goal,'' she said.
Hayden's Lilly Charvat placed third in the 100 breaststroke in Wednesday's Hayden Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Gerdel also teamed with Emily Groff, Lilly Charvat and Dallas Bundy to place fourth in the 200 medley relay in 2:25.76 while Charvat finished third in the 100 breaststroke in 1:22.96.
HAYDEN INVITATIONAL
At Capitol Federal Natatorium
Team scores
Manhattan 519, Osawatomie 383, Piper 337, Maur Hill-Mt. Academy 259, Hayden 153, KC-Washington 18.
Individual results
200 medley relay -- 1. Osawatomie, 2:13.67; 2. Manhattan, 2:15.64; 3. Manhattan 'B', 2:23.70.
200 freestyle -- 1. Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden, 2:12.32; 2. Katherine Madden, Maur Hill-Mt. Academy, 2:13.62; 3. Caris Goering, Manhattan, 2:15.12.
200 individual medley -- 1. Ava McKee, Manhattan, 2:39.57; 2. Camden Strickland, Osawatomie, 2:47.34; 3. Ellie Lund, Manhattan, 2:48.49.
50 freestyle -- 1. Alice Allen, Piper, 26.76; 2. Alyson Slyter, Osawatomie, 28.24; 3. Ashtan Hansen, Manhattan, 28.61.
100 butterfly -- 1. Alivia Hagar, Osawatomie, 1:10.46; 2. Katherine Madden, Maur Hill-Mt. Academy, 1:11.11; 3. Ava McKee, Manhattan, 1:16.02.
100 freestyle -- 1. Ashtan Hansen, Manhattan, 1:02.68; 2. Camden Strickland, Osawatomie, 1:04.80; 3. Ellie Lund, Manhattan, 1:05.99.
500 freestyle -- 1. Alyson Slyter, Osawatomie, 6;08.29; 2. Caris Goering, Manhattan, 6:15.00; 3. Meg Johnson, Osawatomie, 7:15.99.
200 free relay -- 1. Piper, 1:51.24; 2. Manhattan, 1:57.22; 3. Osawatomie, 1:58.99.
100 backstroke -- 1. Aubrey Niedermayer, Manhattan, 1:19.94; 2. Lyla Buser, Manhattan, 1:22.32; 3. Alaina Fainter, Osawatomie, 1:26.43.
100 breastroke -- 1. Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden, 1:16.48; 2. Alivia Hagar, Osawatomie, 1:20.81; 3. Lilly Charvat, Hayden, 1:22.96.
400 free relay -- 1. Piper, 4:12.45; 2. Manhattan, 4:17.33; 3. Manhattan 'B', 4:48.90.
