UC junior Kate Fuhrmann broke 2 school records and won the 50 free at the Union County Championships on Sunday
Kate Fuhrmann continued to add to her legacy as one of the greatest swimmers in Union Catholic history with a sensational performance at Sunday's Union County Championships at the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center at Rutgers University in Piscataway.
Fuhrmann, a junior, smashed two school records and finished first in the 50-yard freestyle to give her two individual county titles and three school records in her career. She also split 30.8 on the breaststroke leg on the seventh-place 200 medley relay, and swam on the 400 free relay that placed eighth to help lead the Vikings to a ninth place finish in the team standings with 100 points.
In the 50 free, Fuhrmann touched the wall just ahead of Emily Wilson of Cranford to win the race in 24.07, which broke the Union Catholic school record of 24.17 set 30 years ago by Lisa Besson. Fuhrmann also placed second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.97, a personal best by more than three seconds, to shatter the school record of 1:08.00 that was set by Gina Bratti in 2015.
Last year, Fuhrmann won the 100 freestyle at the Union County Championships, and then broke a 29 year-old school record in the 100 free in the preliminary round at the Meet of Champions when she recorded a 53.40 to break the mark of 53.88 set in 1988 by Theresa Ciniglio. Fuhrmann went on to finish 14th in the final of the 100 free at the M of C.
Fuhrmann said she had a much different mindset at the county meet this year compared to a year ago.
"Last year, there was no pressure going into it, but this year there were more nerves because I expected more from myself,'' said Fuhrmann. "It was important to me to win a county title again after winning last year.''
With her school records in the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 breaststroke, Fuhrmann is the only Union Catholic swimmer (boy or girl) to currently own three individual school records.
"I think it's cool,'' Fuhrmann said of holding three school records. It's very rewarding. "It shows that all my hard work is paying off.''
Fuhrmann has now qualified for the NJSIAA Meet of Champions (March 3-4 at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology), in the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 breaststroke. She plans to swim two of those races, but isn't sure which two yet. Fuhrmann said her goal is to make the finals in the two races she swims.
