CHAPEL HILL — Athens Drive senior Kirsten Smith may not have posted a record time while blazing through the Koury Natatorium pool and winning the girls’ 500-yard freestyle in 4:55.87 at Saturday’s NCHSAA 4-A Swimming and Diving Championships.

Her prep swan song, however, was one for the record books — just like her first, second and third season-ending performances.

Smith, by winning the 500 freestyle, became the state’s first 4-A swimmer to claim gold medals in the same two individual events for four consecutive years.

In the meet’s fifth event, Smith bettered her one-year old, all-classification 200 individual medley record (from 2:01.08 to 2:00.58).

“That’s cool. I didn’t know that,” Smith said of her precedent-setting accomplishments. “There was a lot of good competition. It was fun.”

Smith, who lost just one individual race over her four-year career, also is the first four-time recipient of the 4-A state meet’s MVP honors. All eight of her winning state meet times earned her automatic all-American distinctions.

Her leadership by example outside the pool, Jaguars coach Mike Morey said, has been equally, if not more, valuable.

Smith’s consistent commitment was evident on a day-to-day basis. Despite a rigorous year-round training schedule for the Florida recruit — who will also participate in this summer’s U.S. Olympic Trials — Smith was a regular participant at Athens Drive’s practices.

“[Her teammates] kind of rally behind her,” Morey said. “They know they have somebody out there that’s representing them well.”

Cary sophomore Torrey Bussey did likewise for the eighth-place Imps, who scored 104 points, by earning her own pair of automatic all-American times. She defended her 100 breaststroke crown in 1:04.74 after placing third in the 200 individual medley (2:04.8).

Bussey was adamant, however, that she will miss Smith.

“It’s going to be sad to see a good competitor leave high school swimming,” Bussey said. “If you [beat her] or not, it’s still something to look forward to at the state meet.”

Saturday also marked the end of the high school road for Apex’s Mandy Myers, who settled for silver in her 200 freestyle championship repeat bid (1:52.5).

Myers, however, was golden in the 50 freestyle (24.07).

The Apex girls (72 points) finished 12th in the team standings, two spots behind 10th-place Athens Drive (94). Green Hope (74, 11th) was highest among area boys’ teams, and the Jaguars were 12th with 71 points.

Athens Drive’s Andy Lamb edged Falcons freshman Dominick Glavich for the 100 butterfly title (50.64 to 50.83). Glavich bounced back and won a share the 100 breaststroke title. Glavich and Broughton’s Emerson Harris both registered times of 59.30 seconds.

Lamb earned a second medal after finishing third in the 100 backstroke (51.53).

Chapel Hill swept the team titles. The boys ended Enloe’s nine-year run of championships, while the girls halted Charlotte Providence’s five-year reign.