Even with an unintentional pit stop, Margaret Ward of Natchez captured the state championship in the 50-meter backstroke at the Mississippi 8-under State Meet in Biloxi Thursday.

Ward, 7, has been practicing for the 25-meter backstroke before Natchez Swim Association coach Tammy Whittington added the 50-meter backstroke to her events two weeks ago.

&uot;We went on vacation and came back in time for the state meet,&uot; said Iva Ward, Margaret’s mother. &uot;So Margaret wasn’t used to going 50-meters.&uot;

Iva said her daughter swam the first 25 meters to the end of the pool, lifted her head up and asked her father George, &uot;Did I win?&uot; Iva said George told Margaret she wasn’t through and to keep swimming.

Ward still finished ahead of the competition.

&uot;I loved it,&uot; Margaret said of finishing first. &uot;I thought I could win it. This is the biggest award I’ve ever won. It makes me want to keep on swimming.&uot;

Ward also finished second in the 25-backstroke, fourth in the 25-freestyle and fifth in the 100-freestyle.

She lost her cap in the 25-freestyle race.

&uot;It started coming off and I was trying to get it back on,&uot; she said. &uot;Then I just kept swimming and by the time I got to the end it was at the bottom of the pool.&uot;

Ward also teamed up with Taylor White, Whitney Timm and Madison Farmer to place sixth in the freestyle relay.

Ward had never competed in a swim meet competition before swimming in the Vicksburg meet in June.

Ward earned high point honors in that meet, claiming two first place finishes and a second.

In the 8-under boys, Dylan White placed third in the 50-meter backstroke.