Topeka ? Ashley Robinson’s most emotional race Saturday at the state swimming and diving meet was the one that seemed to matter the least.

After smashing a 13-year-old state record in the 500-yard freestyle and nearly knocking off an Olympic trials qualifier for another crown in the 100-yard butterfly, the Free State High junior’s last effort of the afternoon came in a consolation relay. But it was special.

“It got really emotional. I definitely didn’t want to let Ashley Jackson go out without us winning one last race together,” said Robinson, who was barely out of the pool after the 500 before anchoring the Firebirds’ 200-yard relay team that took ninth place at Hummer Sports Complex Natatorium.

As the Ashleys embraced on the awards stand and huddled with FSHS coach Jama Crady, the full impact of Jackson’s final high school swim meet and Robinson’s historic performance became overwhelming.

“It’s kind of hard to realize I’m never coming back,” said the Louisville-bound Jackson, who shed tears with her coach. “Overall, though, it was a great final meet. We all came out and competed really well, and even though I didn’t win any titles, I got the times I wanted.”

Free State High swimming coach Jama Crady, right, shows junior Ashley Robinson her time during a warm-up lap. Robinson placed first in the 500 freestyle at the Kansas state meet Saturday in Topeka.

Jackson finished fourth in the 200 free and posted a season-best performance when she took third in the 500 in a time of 5:09.34.

But there was no catching “Robby” from collecting her third straight state title in the 500, as Robinson broke former Lawrence High swimmer Joy Stover’s 1992 mark of 4:56.14, posting a time of 4:55.64.

“I guess if a Lawrence swimmer’s record is going to fall, it might as well be broken by another swimmer from Lawrence,” Robinson said.

Four state records fell Saturday, as did defending state champion Wichita Trinity. Blue Valley North took the team title with 325 points, and Trinity came in second with 246 points.

Lawrence High diver Mallory West performs during the Kansas state swimming and diving meet. West, a freshman, placed fourth in the event Saturday at the Hummer Sports Complex Natatorium in Topeka.

Free State couldn’t match its school-record fourth-place finish from a year ago, placing 10th with 86 points. LHS was 20th, scoring 27 points.

The Lions were led by freshman Mallory West’s fourth-place finish in one-meter diving.

“I didn’t do quite as well as I’d hoped, but I’m only a freshman so I have a lot more years to gain experience and come in and hit my dives just a little better,” said West, who scored 372.50 points.

LHS coach Ryan Adams said West probably would have finished third if she hadn’t hit her foot on the board – a point deduction – during a semifinal dive.

Julia Szabo took 13th in the 100-yard butterfly in 1:02.55, and fellow senior Melissa Little finished 14th in the 500 free in 5:28.30 and was 16th in the 200 free in 2:06.69.

“They both did great today,” Adams said. “They’ve both been to state for four years and have been the backbone of our team, so I’m glad they can finish up their careers with strong performances.”

Free State High senior Ashley Jackson, right, hugs junior Ashley Robinson after the 500-yard freestyle at the Kansas state meet. Robinson won the event and Jackson placed third.

But the strongest performances came from Free State’s Robinson.

Coming into the finals of the 100-yard fly, Robinson – who won the event last season in :56.43 – trailed BV North’s Ashton Aubry’s preliminary time by two and half seconds.

In the finals Robinson flew to a time of 55.78, but Aubry, who took last year’s high school season off to focus on the Olympic trials, set a state record in 55.07.

“That kind of came out of nowhere,” Robinson said.

But Crady said her standouts’ finishes did not.

“I might be the meanest coach in the world making them swim back-to-back like that,” Crady said of the quick transition from the 500 to 200 relay. “But if anyone can do that, Ashley and Robby can.

“They went out there and both posted their top times in that relay, which I thought was a fitting way to cap off their fine careers together.”