Ever so briefly, the first win of Lakeland High School’s girls’ swim program seemed within its grasp on Saturday.

Members of the girls’ team had already finished 1-2-3 in the 100-meter backstroke as one final swimmer continued. The points would give Lakeland the lead over King’s Fork High School with only two events remaining. And then it all went away.

Thunder was heard, and for the safety of the competitors, the computers keeping track of the times were immediately shut off on the damp ground surrounding the enclosed outdoor pool at Great Bridge Swim and Racquet Club. This happened before the last swimmer touched the wall, so it was ruled that the backstroke event would not count toward each team’s total score.

The final two events were called off, as well, and King’s Fork emerged with a 64-57 win.

King’s Fork head coach Dan Krewson was as sportsmanlike and honest as he could be. He said if the weather had allowed the meet to conclude, “I believe Lakeland would have won that meet.

“We got the win,” he said. “Hooray for my team, it’s great, but I feel bad for those girls, because I don’t think it would have gone that way.”

The King’s Fork boys’ team won beyond any doubt, with a score of 97-35.

Lakeland head coach Beth Brant stated her feelings about the meet in an email.

“I am extremely proud of all my swimmers, both the girls and the boys,” she wrote. “They had a lot of accomplishments at this meet, whether they placed or had a personal record. While on paper it is recorded as a loss for the girls, I truly know that it was a win … their first win! They have done nothing but improve this season and are starting to make waves … and they are only going to continue to do so in the future!”

Positioned at first, second and third place in the backstroke event that was not counted were Leia Dotson, Jenna Marvin and Cheyenne Salmon, respectively.

“That was quite a way to end the meet with all three of them coming in at the top,” she stated.

For King’s Fork, the boys’ 200-meter freestyle relay team broke its school record, placing first with a time of 1:52.90. The team included Corbin Morse, Hunter Lowe, Hugh Long and Kyle Corbett.

Long continued his strong performances in the 100-meter butterfly, winning with a time of 1:15.05.

A standout for King’s Fork’s girls’ team was Carlee Morse, who won the girls’ 100 fly. Krewson said it was the first time Morse had swum the event, and she finished in 1:37.69.

For Lakeland, Gregory Epps won the 100 freestyle with a time of 1:09.61. Shaquon Woods’ time of 1:36.54 took first in the 100 backstroke, and Megan Cox won the girls’ 200 free with a 3:21.62 time.

Dotson, Marvin, Salmon and Amber Hoggard formed the 200 freestyle relay team, which won in 2:36.13. Dotson, Casey White, Alexis Wingate and Erin Bradshaw won the 200 medley relay in 2:46.93.