Winter Age Group Championships - Day One
The 2013 Southern California Swimming Winter Age Group Championships (Las Vegas meet) began yesterday at the Desert Breeze Aquatic Center and Beach Cities raced hard and fast with top finishers in multiple events. The 7-10 boys had at least one swimmer place in each event and every swim was a time drop, the 11-12 boys had massive time cuts in multiple events and saw a swimmer final in an event, and the 13 and overs had multiple time cuts, swim offs, returns and placing at finals, and even more time cuts off of prelim swims, during the finals.
The first session of the day started with 13 and over prelims. Lauren Nielsen made it back for finals in the 400 yard individual medley with a best time of 4:57,92. Shannon O’Brien made it back for finals in the 200 yard backstroke with a time of 2:18.40 and Alex Crisera made it back in the 200 yard backstroke with a time of 2:16.25. Jennie Bao had a great 100 breastroke swim and tied for 11th, creating the need for a swim off. Druing the swim off Jennie proved who wanted it more and swam to a best time of 1:15.25, locking in her spot as first alternate for the finals. Elle insocre locked in a second alternate spot in the 100 yard freestyle with a time of 56.44.
The 7-12 year olds swam a timed final session in between the 13 and over prelim and finals sessions. Our swimmers started off strong and ready to race with two top finalists in the 100 yard breaststroke. Kai Scarlet finished third overall with a best time of 1:20.47 and Ryan O’Shaughnessey finished fourth overall with a best time of 1:23.23. Beach Cities very own Vi Hong represented the 11-12 boys in the 100 yard breastroke with a sixth overall finish and a best time of 1:15.33. The next event was the 7-10 boys 50 yard free where fearless leader Roger Brown swam to a second overall finish and best time of 28.03. The 7-10 boys 100 yard butterfly was a fast and fun swim to watch. The unstopable Kai Scarlet swam to a third place finish with a time of 1:09.41 and his breakout star teammate Bradley Diaz finished eigth overall with a best time of 1:12.62. Way to go boys!!
Nikki Cooper swam the timed final 1000 yard freestyle with a best time of 11:26.68 and a tenth place overall finish. Great swim, Nikki!
We finished up day one with some great swims at finals. Lauren Nielsen swam her 400 yard individual medley even faster during finals with a final place of ninth and a time of 4:57.29. Shannon O’Brien finished fourth overall in the 200 yard backstroke and cut four more seconds off her prelims time with a final time of 2:14.17. Alex Crisera finished fifth overall and cut two seconds off her prelim time with a final time of 2:14.50. Way to go girls!!!
At the conclusion of fInals on Friday, with their whole team cheering them on, the 13-14 girls 800 yard freestyle relay swam hard and fast to a sixth overall finish and a time of 8:33.55. Congratulations to Riley Farrell, Nikki Cooper, Shannon O’Brien , and Lauren Nielsen on their awesome relay swim. Thank you to all the Junior Olympic and Red Group swimmers that came back to cheer for their teammates that made finals and be witness to the fast swimming and team spirit!
Day two will include a similar format with the olders swimming 500 free, 100 back, 200 fly, and 200 medley and the youngers swimming 200 free, 50 back, 100 medley, and 50 fly. Stay tuned for more championship meet results!!
GO BEACH CITIES!
