Kobie Melton wrapped up her Athens High School swimming career the best possible way she could, with two state championships and a state record at Saturday’s AHSAA state swim meet at Auburn University.

The AHS senior, who has committed to swim at the University of Arkansas, placed first in the 200-yard freestyle – an event she previously won in her freshman year of 2014 – and set the AHSAA state record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 54.67 seconds. That time broke the previous mark of 54.91 set in 2014 by UMS-Wright’s Paige Madden.

Not only was Melton’s time a state record, but it meets the 2017-2018 NISCA/Speedo Swimming All-America time standard.

Melton, who will next be competing at the U.S. Junior Nationals in Knoxville, Tennessee, later this week, said she was proud of her high school accomplishments.

“It was a good meet to finish my high school career with,” Melton said. “I’ll definitely miss my time swimming for Athens. The meets had a great team atmosphere and a lot of school spirit.”

Melton is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, and one of the captains of the Athens High swim team. Athens swimming coach Anna Underwood said she will miss Melton’s work ethic and competitive spirit.

“I’m just so proud of her and all that she’s accomplished,” Underwood said. “I’m excited she was able to finish her senior season so successfully.”

Melton wasn’t the only Athens swimmer to have a successful state meet. Boys sophomore Connor Hill finished fourth in the 100-yard backstroke, while the girls 200-yard freestyle relay team of Melton, Grace Martin, Emma Preston and Madelyn Farmer finished ninth.

The Golden Eagles compete in a combined 6A-7A classification.

“I’m absolutely proud of everyone,” Underwood said. “We had a very successful meet overall. Our team motto this year was teamwork, and they really encouraged each other in practices and meets throughout the season.”

While many high school swimmers are finished swimming competitively until next season, Melton just moves to another high-level competition, competing in the U.S. Junior Nationals. Melton will be racing against the clock even more so as time cuts are used to determine which swimmers move on to other national swimming competitions, including eventually the Olympic trials.

However, Melton said she doesn’t prepare for the Junior Nationals any differently than she did the state meet.

“I feel like the same amount of pressure is on in both meets,” Melton said. “I’ll face better competition at Junior Nationals, but I always want to get the best time, no matter what the competition is, and make those cuts for the national meets.”

Melton will swim the 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly individually at the Junior Nationals in addition to being part of five relays.