Former Evans swimmer C.J. Hendry posts 9 personal bests at championships

The Atlantic Coast Conference Swimming Championships recently concluded, and former Evans High School swimmer C.J. Hendry had a meet to remember.

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Hendry's school, Florida State University, finished third in the event, behind Virginia and North Carolina, the host school. Hendry certainly had a hand in FSU's success.

Counting preliminary events, finals, and relays Hendry, now a junior, had nine swims in Chapel Hill and, amazingly, she posted lifetime bests in all nine. She was a member of four of the five team relay events, including tying the school record in the 400-yard free and breaking the school's 800-yard relay mark. She swam in the 200-yard free relay and the 400-yard medley relay as well.

For one swimmer to participate in four of five relays is rare. She made the finals in all three individual events -- 100-yard fly, 200-yard fly, and 100-yard backstroke.

Hendry's 200-yard fly time of 1:59.06 was not only a personal best, it also ranks as the second-fastest time in Florida State history and was good for fifth in the ACC. She was sixth in the ACC in the 100-yard fly with a time of 54.08. She also managed a Top 20 performance in the 100-yard backstroke.

She improved on her 2009 ACC performances when she notched an 11th-place finish in the 100-yard fly and a 14th-place finish in the 200-yard fly. In the 200 fly, she posted a time of 1:59.06, an impressive improvement from her 2:00.85 last year.

Back in 2007, she claimed the Georgia state title in the 100 back and was a two-time Junior National finalist. She claimed team MVP honors for Evans all four years during her prep career. She also was outstanding as a member of the Augusta Swim League, being named a Georgia All-Star 16 times.

Next up for Hendry and the Seminoles is a trip to Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., for the NCAA Championships March 18-20.