Sedona Race Pace swimmer Renae Porteous won two events at the Age Group State Championships — held from Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8. In the process, Porteous made history.

As a 12-year-old two years ago, Porteous won the 100 freestyle race. Moving up to the 13-14 year-old age group in 2019 didn’t keep her from repeating as champion in her group in the event. In 2020, she went back as a two-time defending champion in the 100, looking for the elusive three-peat, something that no Sedona swimmer had ever done in any event at that meet. Porteous showed there’s a first time for everything, touching first to win the event for a third straight year.

“It’s a pretty big thing for me,” Porteous said. “It’s one of my first long-term goals that I made over time. I won it at 12 and again the next year. I thought maybe I can do this thing that nobody else has done. It was a long-term goal and a pretty big deal.”

For good measure, Porteous added another win at the Age Group State Championships, touching first in the 100 backstroke and improving on her third place finish in that event from a year ago.

Swimming is certainly an individual sport. Still, while Porteous’ work ethic and temperament has a lot to do with her success, she acknowledged that becoming a better swimmer is a team process.

“I’m a hard worker — and lighthearted,” she said. “I don’t give up. I push through all of the challenges I face … and I’m very grateful for my coaches, teammates, especially [Sedona Race Pace] coach Sean [Emery]. He’s been with me the whole time.”

Porteous also qualified for the Sectional Championships in Tulsa, which were ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Like just about any swimmer, one of Porteous’ ultimate goals is to one day qualify for the Olympics. The Olympics also being pushed back a year to 2021 will give Porteous a chance to make a big step toward that goal sooner than she otherwise would have expected.

“She was upset about sectionals being canceled in Tulsa this year,” her father, Ben Piper said. Because the Olympics have been pushed back until 2021, she now has the opportunity to qualify for Olympic Trials.”

“She has worked so hard to be where she is at,” he added. “She is an amazing girl with a hell of a lot of brains, also.”

Posting an Olympic Trial qualifying time in the 100 freestyle and qualifying for the Olympics is one of many goals that Porteous has in swimming.

She wants to make the futures cuts, which is a step up from sectionals. Porteous also hopes to swim in college one day.

“Hopefully we can get back to a normal swimming schedule,” she said. “I have a whole bunch of goals that I want to accomplish.”

“I definitely need to work on my underwaters — that will help a lot,” Porteous added, when asked what she needs to improve to make those goals a reality. “Just building up strength and speed and keep pushing through everything.”