Sydnee Karam finished off a stellar swimming career with two more titles last weekend at the District 11 Class AA Championships.

The Bethlehem Catholic senior won the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events, capping a career that saw her win all eight district championship races she entered over her four-year career.

"I am so excited, so happy, so relieved," she said. "I'm thankful that all my hard work paid off. I knew it was possible. I didn't know if I could do it. I had to keep myself in line all four years of high school and it paid off."

Karam was one of three Golden Hawk swimmers to earn medals at the meet, which was held Friday and Saturday at Parkland High School. Senior Jarod LaSelva won the 100 butterfly and took third place in the 100 backstroke. Sophomore Jill Spirk won the 100 butterfly and finished third in the 100 freestyle.

Karam, who swam the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke in her first three years, decided early this year to try the longer events.

"I never liked any kind of distance," she said. "This year I realized I just have to suck it up and do it.

"It's just very long and tiring. You have to stay focused. That's the hardest part."

Karam won Friday's 200 by over two seconds, posting a time of 1:55.15. She cruised to a win in Saturday's 500 by nearly 20 seconds, posting a 5:02.65, well ahead of second-place Maria Holstrom (Central Catholic) at 5:21.66.

"It was almost a smooth swim for me," she said of the 500. "This whole meet I'm not rested or tapered or anything. It gives me good insight for states. That's telling me when I do go to states and I'm rested, tapered, suited up in my fast suit, I'm definitely going to be faster than my best time. So I'm happy about both my times this weekend."

Karam's top time in the 200 is a 1:51. She is hoping to break 1:50 at states. Her top times in the 500 is 4:59. Her goal for states is to break 4:55 in the long-distance event.

LaSelva earned his second career gold medal, winning Friday's 100-yard butterfly in 53.38, not far off his winning time from a year ago (53.84).

"I think I could have gone a bit faster but I think I still did pretty well for the most part," he said. "I didn't have specific goals for the times, I just wanted to try and improve a bit."

LaSelva earned a third-place finish in Saturday's backstroke. He finished in 57.22 after entering as the No. 4 seed with a seed time of 1:01.10.

He'll make his third trip to states in three years of high school swimming.

Spirk heads to states for the second time after capturing her first district gold medal. She won Friday's 100-yard butterfly in 59.51 seconds after entering as the No. 2 seed with a time of 1:03.2.

"It feels really good," she said. "I missed states by under a second last year, so I really wanted to make it this year."

Last year she finished in 1:02.55 for fourth place. He goal this season was to get under one minute.

"I've been trying to it for like a year now, since districts last year," she said.

Spirk also took third place in the 100 freestyle with a time of 55.47, just a little faster than her third-place time from last year (55.53).

All of District 11's championship swimmers automatically qualify for next week's PIAA Championship Meet at Bucknell University. The Class AA events will be held Wednesday and Thursday, March 11-12.

Any swimmer who did not win a district event could qualify for states based on time. After all district champs are entered, the top times from around the state fill out the rest of the field.