Penn Hills swimmer Kimani Gregory earns All-American status in 3 events
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Thursday, August 9, 2018 | 10:27 PM
Penn Hills swimming standout Kimani Gregory had two huge accomplishments recently.
Gregory, who will be a senior, was named 2017-18 All-America in three events by the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association.
He ranked seventh in the boys 100-yard freestyle (43.76 seconds), 19th in the 100 butterfly (48.03) and 50th in the 50 freestyle (20.52).
He then finished in the top 16 in three events at the Junior National Championships in Irvine, Calif., coming in first in the men’s 50-meter freestyle (23.14), fourth in the 100 butterfly (54.76) and fifth in the 100 freestyle (51.01) in the “B” finals.
Gregory, a North Carolina State recruit, was proud of his achievements.
“(Making All-America) shows that, with my work ethic and progress, I’ve been able to be (a part) of a national list that takes dedication and hard work,” he said. “I was happy the way (Junior Nationals) went.
“We came in, went five for five on best times.”
Jim Skirboll, Gregory’s coach with Racer X Aquatics, expects him to improve.
“(We are) preparing him harder (than) the previous year,” Skirboll said.
Penn Hills coach Cheryl Ciorra said Gregory is an exceptional student-athlete.
“It took a lot of dedication and hard work to achieve (All-America),” she said. “Kimani plans on staying focused and working hard on his goal to become double state champ.”
Gregory, who is 6-foot, set a meet record in the 100-yard freestyle (44.09) at the WPIAL Class AAA championship in March. He also won in the 100 butterfly (48.45).
He placed second in the 100 butterfly and third in the 100 freestyle at the PIAA championship, where he achieved two of his All-America cuts.
Gregory made All-America in the 50 and 100 freestyle in the 2016-17 season.
He is the third member of his family to star for the Indians and commit to a NCAA Division I program.
Brothers Norm and Isaiah were on the La Salle men’s team last season.
Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.
Tags: Penn Hills
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