Jodi Encapera and Sean McCone overcame major medical obstacles to place among the top six in the Harford County swimming championships last week.
Encapera, a John Carroll freshman, missed the pre-Christmas season with a back injury, competed in three January meets -- setting a county 200-meter individual medley record along the way -- then was sidelined with a broken foot.
Swimming with her left foot and ankle in a hard cast -- filled with water, it probably added 25 pounds to her kick -- she qualified for the 100 butterfly final Tuesday, then placed fifth in 1 minute, 12.01 seconds, about 10 seconds behind winner Lauren Hafer of Bel Air.
McCone, a Havre de Grace senior, had his appendix removed two weeks ago, got back in the pool for the first time last Monday, qualified for the 100 breaststroke final Wednesday and placed fourth in 1:12.18, his second-fastest time of the year.
That was eight seconds behind winner Sherwin Sapasap, but less than four seconds out of second.
He admitted to being tired and sore after the preliminaries and the final.
"Every time I took a stroke, I could feel it [stitches] pull apart," he said.