CORAL SPRINGS SWIMMERS FINISH ON HIGH NOTE, LOOK TO BUILD OFF SUCCESS

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

Kelly Kealty is beginning to see all her hard work pay off.

Like many of her Coral Springs Swim Club teammates, the 12-year-old gauged her progress during the four-day Florida Gold Coast Short Course Junior Olympics that ended Sunday at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

Kealty was happy with her training that resulted in career-best times and her first All-Star team selection.

On Sunday, in her sixth and final event of the meet, Kealty, 12, finished sixth in the 50-yard breaststroke in a career-best 33.69 seconds. She bettered her prelim time of 35.41 and seed time of 35.34.

“I wanted to do good in all my breaststroke events, it’s my favorite and I did,” Kealty said. “I am definitely motivated to work even harder. This was my best meet of the season for me in the breaststroke.

“I definitely want to keep improving, I am really trying hard,” Kealty said. “All my close friends and my parents help me especially when you have that one bad day. Then the good days follow.”

Kealty, a seventh grader, watched her older sister swim and decided to give it a try. “I really liked it,” she said. “It definitely took a while to improve. When I turned 10, I started getting my JOs.”

Before swimming, she also tried diving, tennis and racewalking. Her mother, Carolyn, is a national-caliber racewalker currently training for the world trials.

“She is definitely an inspiration to me,” Kealty said. “She went to the Olympic trials. I look at her and say, wow, if my mom can do that, I can do this.”

CARIFTA HERE WE COME

Keegan Boisson-Yates, 14, and Tyla Martin, 12, tuned up for the April 3-6 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships at the National Stadium Pool in Kingston, Jamaica. The Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) event is the annual age group championships for the Caribbean.

It will be Boisson-Yates’ fourth appearance.

For Martin, it will be her international meet debut. They will both represent Trinidad and Tobago.

“I am very excited about CARIFTA,” said Martin, who plans to swim 10 events. “I want to do good in all of them. I definitely will have some butterflies. I will be nervous but excited at the same time. I am using it as a learning experience. Based on JOs, I think I am ready.”

In his final event of the JO meet, Boisson-Yates won the 100-yard freestyle in a career-best 47.33.

Martin closed out the meet with a victory in the 100-yard freestyle in a career-best 54.41, breaking 55 for the first time. She was also second in the 100-yard individual medley in 1:00.91.

 “Tyla was just awesome in the freestyle,” praised Coral Springs coach Michael Lohberg. “She has a shot at CARIFTA. Keegan is just sensational. The guy can swim. He is so elegant and smooth in the water.”

Lohberg loves the idea that two of his swimmers are getting international experience at such an young age.

“The thing is that we always encourage when foreigners have a chance to go on a national team they need to go,” Lohberg said. “Because that is what it is about–to make friends internationally, to compete, to see the world.

“It is one of the big advantages that this sport gives you. You have to earn it and then you go. Every time the kids swim for national teams they take a big step forward. They get more self-confidence and feel they are really part of this sport. It is fun to watch.”

CAMPO, COOKE GO HOME HAPPY

Stephanie Campo and Eden Cooke both agreed they were  “going home pretty happy.”

Campo, 12, a seventh grader at Coral Springs Charter, finished second in the 100-yard freestyle in a career-best 56.75. Her seed time was 57.08.

“I am happy with all my swims and times,” Campo said. “I know what I need to work on. This was my big meet. Now I go back to training and get ready for zones.”

Cooke, 10, was fourth in the 100-yard freestyle in 1:02.50 and seventh in the 100-yard individual medley in 1:14.13, both career-best times.

“I did pretty much everything I wanted to do in this meet,” Cooke said. “This is my best meet. I finally broke 1:03 in the 100 free. It was something I really wanted to do.”

“I was just happy I remembered the IM. A couple years ago I got disqualified because I did freestyle instead of butterfly. That was embarrassing. I haven’t done that again.”

Other top Coral Springs finishers:

Marco Hosfeld, 13, third, 50 breaststroke, 30.29 and third in the 100 freestyle, 50.34.

Emma Lincoln, 14, third, 100 freestyle, 54.83 and seventh 400 yard individual medley, 4:49.86

Jenna Moodie, 14, fourth, 100 freestyle, 54.92

Bogdan Cioanta, 14, fifth, 50 breaststroke, 31.25 and seventh in the 100 freestyle, 52.63.

Philomena Fiorenzi, 14, sixth, 50 breaststroke, 33.07

Jenna Diaz, 12, 12^th, 400 yard individual medley, 5:25.81

Lohberg was happy with the swimmers’ final day performances.

“Today everybody was at the upper level, it was pretty good,” said the veteran Olympic coach. “Every time we had someone in the final they did really well.”

Age group coach Bruno Darzi was also pleased with the team’s effort despite its slow start early in the season because of poor weather and sickness.

“I am really happy with the results,” said the former elite swimmer. “Before the meet started it was hard to know what to expect because the first two weeks of the season our kids had a hard time. The weather was definitely a factor and several kids got sick during the season.

“It was a challenge for me as a coach to prepare them. There was a lot of work to be done. I had no idea how they were going to perform or know how this meet would turn out. I came to the meet without any expectations, with a ‘whatever happens, happens’ attitude. I was hoping I planned them properly and I think I did because I was really happy with our results.”

Coral Springs had six swimmers finish among the Top 10 high point leaders. They were:

10-and-under girls: Eden Cooke, 10, seventh, 42 points.

11-12 girls: Stephanie Campo, 12, second, 66 points.

11-12 girls: Tyla Martin, 12, tenth, 40 points.

13-14 girls: Emma Lincoln, 14, third, 48 points.

13-14 boys: Keegan Boisson-Yates, 14, third, 68 points.

13-14 boys: Marco Hosfeld, 13, fourth, 45 points.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4comets.com

http://wwwcsscswim.com

HERON, ROCHE LEAD COMETS ON DAY 3

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

CORAL SPRINGS—The future looks bright for Kelley Heron and Ricardo Roche.

The bubbly 10-year-olds turned in some outstanding performances Saturday on the third day of the Florida Gold Coast Short Course Junior Olympics at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

Heron and Roche braved the chilly weather after qualifying for finals in several events. They qualified in six of the Comets 18 finals swims.

Heron took home three third places. She was third in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:36.40; third in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:12.47 and third in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:53.98, her favorite event. They were all career-best times.

Heron has been swimming for three years and loving every minute of it, she said. She tried only one other sport before deciding to focus on swimming.

“When I was little my dad (Patrick) motivated me because he was a runner so my parents started trying to get me into sports.

 “I tried tennis but I wasn’t very good at it,” Heron said. “Then I tried the swim team and I was good at it. Then we moved and I got on the Comets.

“Even though the coaches told me not to expect much because it was my first meet, I made my first sub-JO and ended up getting my first record.”

Heron, a fourth grader at Charter School Central, competes in both short and long distance events but admitted she likes the longer ones “because I get to stay in the pool longer,” she said.

“I have fun in the pool,” Heron said. “Sometimes I’m relaxed depending on what I feel like. Sometimes I’m sick and I don’t feel good but I tell myself I still have to try my best. This weekend I have been in a great mood.”

Heron made most of her AAA times and qualified in all of her events for the FGC All-Star team.

“I am going to stick with swimming,” Heron said. “I want to aim for the Olympics.”

Roche, also dreaming about the Olympics, enjoyed one of his busiest nights of swimming.

After placing ninth in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:40.96 and fifth in the 100-yard backstroke in a career-best 1:17.31, Roche finished the night with a second place finish in the 500-yard freestyle in a career-best 5:58.55.

“I am happy because I like to do good and it’s fun,” Roche said. “I enjoy it. I like the longer events. I had the most fun in the 500.”

Roche, also a fourth grader, got involved in swimming when his cousin introduced him to the sport.

“That’s when I picked swimming over different sports,” said Roche, who used to play soccer. “I am excited I am good. I want to stay in swimming. I want to get faster and break some pool records.”

Roche has two events remaining on Sunday, the 100 individual medley and 100 freestyle.

“I’m lucky I am young and getting all this experience. I am really happy with all this stuff I am learning,” Roche said.

“I want to go to the Olympics some day.”

Two other good swims were Maria Lopez, 14, second in the 50-yard butterfly in 26.78, bettering her 27.70 previous best and Diego Rodriguez, 12, sixth in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:47.78.

Heron and Roche are among 10 Comets who have qualified for the Florida Gold Coast All-Star team for the April 10-11 FGC vs. Florida Swimming meet at Indian River State College in Fort Pierce.

The other Comets who have qualified after three days are: Zoey Chilcote, 10; Jorge Depassier, 10; Carly Swanson, 12; Leonie Davies, 13; Maria Lopez, 14; Amber Hunter, 14; Javier Menchaca, 14; and Blake Kelley, 14.

The FGC meet concludes today with a full schedule of preliminary and final events.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4comets.com

http://www.csscswim.com

CORAL SPRINGS CONTINUES IMPRESSIVE RUN

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

No one is more pleasantly surprised about their swimmers performances than the Coral Springs Swim Club coaching staff.

Since the opening day of the Florida Gold Coast Short Course Junior Olympics on Wednesday, the age group swimmers have continued to impress in both short and distance events.

“I think this has been a surprising meet for us,” said Coral Springs head coach Michael Lohberg.

“In the build-up meets the kids were not that great. There were a lot of lessons to be learned, but here they swim really well. I am happy with the way they swim. The kids are dropping times and doing very well.

“Our kids always come through when it matters the most,” Lohberg said.

Coral Springs qualified for 33 finals swims on a chilly Saturday night. Every swimmer had his or her own success story, whether it was winning, dropping times or improving enough to stay focused and motivated in one of the toughest sports in athletics.

Stephanie Campo, 12, a seventh grader at Coral Springs Charter, turned in an impressive swim in the 500-yard freestyle winning the event in a career-best 5:17.25. She was also second in the 50-yard freestyle in 26.38 bettering her previous best of 26.89 and second in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:03.29. She has one event left to swim on Sunday.

“I love to race,” Campo said. “I felt so smooth in the 500. I wanted to get ahead of everyone by a lot early in the race. That was my goal. I worked on all my race details–my stroke, my breathing, it was all going through my mind.

“This was my best meet of the season so far,” Campo said. “I am so excited and motivated for zones now,” Campo said. “It’s my time to kick butt.”

No one seemed more happier than Jillian Alexander, 12, also a seventh grader at Coral Springs Charter, who is seeing her hard work pay off in dividends.

Alexander took third in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:37.28, bettering her prelim time of 2:39.27 and sixth in the 200-yard individual medley in a career-best three-second drop of 2:22.46, faster than her prelim time of 2:25.13 and previous best of 2:25.02.

It was a great way to end the meet, Alexander said. With her events out of the way, she returns to the pool today for swim practice and cheer on her teammates before taking Monday off.

“I was really excited about my race,” a beaming Alexander said. “I dropped three seconds and that is really good. It motivates me to keep working hard.”

Her favorite stroke is the breaststroke and it shows. She continues to fine tune her stroke and pullout.

“I think because I try hard in training the work is beginning to pay off,” said Alexander, a former soccer and softball player. “I am glad I did good tonight. I am happy I am progressing. It is kind of upsetting when you put the work in and don’t do good. It takes a lot of hard work but I am definitely glad I stayed with it.”

St. Andrew’s student Tyla Martin, 12, of Trinidad and Tobago and training for next months CARIFTA Games in Jamaica, looked impressive in her first events of the meet.

Martin, who has her sights set on the 2012 London Olympics, won the 200-yard individual medley in a career-best 2:09.64, bettering her prelim time of 2:12.83 and previous best of 2:14.01 and second in the 50-yard butterfly just getting out-touched in 26.46.

“I dropped time in my IM and that felt good even though my backstroke could have been a little faster and I went best time in my fly, so I am happy,” said Martin, who swims the 100 freestyle and 100 individual medley on Sunday.

Growing up, Martin was athletic. She played basketball and soccer and enrolled in gymnastics and dance classes. But it was swimming that caught her fancy.

“I liked it and I stuck with it throughout the year,” she said. “It’s a lot of work but I am glad I swim. Tonight I wanted to get my best times and I accomplished that. I feel pumped to do good on Sunday.”

At 10, Eden Cooke is getting a head start on her swimming career. Cooke turned in another consistent performance on Saturday. She was third in the 50-yard freestyle, in a career-best 28.63, bettering her previous best of 28.68. She was also fourth in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:12.67.

“My Coach Bruno is a very good coach,” Cooke said. “He trains us well for our specific strokes and prepares us to do good. He tells us that we are going to do good if we work hard.

“I had a feeling I was going to do good in this meet,” Cooke said with a smile. “I wanted to drop time because I am going to be swimming in a national meet in a few weeks.”

Cooke is following in her big sister Danielle’s footsteps, who is also a swimmer.

“I am glad I got in swimming,” Cooke said. “It keeps me fit and active. I am very motivated. I definitely want to go to the Olympics.”

Talented Keegan Boisson-Yates, 14, of Trinidad and Tobago turned in another impressive night. He won his second event of the meet in the 200-yard individual medley, bettering his career-best of 2:05.85 with a winning time of 2:03.39. He was also runner-up in the 100-yard backstroke in 54.51 and third in the 50-yard freestyle in 22.28 bettering his previous best of 23.89.

Teammate Marco Hosfeld, 13, was second with a huge time drop in 2:04.76 in the 200 IM, bettering his previous best of 2:08.59

Emma Lincoln, 14, was third in the 200 individual medley in 2:14.93 and third in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:10.23.

The four-day meet concludes today with a full schedule of prelim and finals events.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.csscswim.com

http://www.swim4comets.com

COMETS QUALIFY NINE FOR ALL-STAR MEET IN TWO DAYS

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

CORAL SPRINGS—Despite a rain-soaked morning, the Pembroke Pines Comets rose to the occasion on Day Two of the Florida Gold Coast Junior Olympic Championships at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

The Comets shook off poor weather conditions during morning prelims to bounce back and shine in the finals on Friday night.

In two days, the Comets have qualified nine swimmers for the April 10-11 Florida Gold Coast vs. Florida Swimming All-Star meet at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce.

It is the most the Comets have qualified for the annual All-Star meet in two days.

And, with two days remaining, age group coach Rose Lockie said the Comets could add a few more names to the list of qualifiers.

Lockie and the entire Comets’ coaching staff were impressed at how the young swimmers handled the adversity of rain, wind and cold. 

“The morning was hard for them,” Lockie said. “It was wicked cold and just miserable. A lot of them battled with the conditions in the morning and then came back in the evening and did very, very well.”

Lockie said the difference between prelims and finals was like night and day. A little pep talk from the coaches helped between sessions.

“Their attitudes changed so much,” Lockie said. “They were pumped up and so excited to have the chance to make the All-Star team. It was really nice to see them come back and have such a positive attitude. We definitely could see a change from the morning. They were smiling more. They seemed happier. It showed they were ready to swim in finals.”

Lockie was concerned at early weather reports for even worse conditions Friday night. Despite a temperature drop, the heavy rains and wind held off for finals.

“They realized they couldn’t control the weather and that it was bad for everybody in the morning,” Lockie said. “The kids coming back for finals were talking about the All-Star meet. It was such a great motivator.  They talked amongst each other and knew it was a big thing to place in the Top 6.”

Lockie said the team’s “hard training” for JOs  paid off in the races.

The Comets had 12 swimmers qualify for the finals—seven boys and five girls.

Among the Comets’ top six finishers were:

Boys 1,000-yard freestyle: Raphael Mora, 11, third, career-best 12:04.41; Alejandro Patino, 12, fourth, 12:26.99; Austin Iglesias, 12, fifth, career-best 12:45.19.

Boys 100-yard butterfly: Javier Menchaca, 14, fifth, career-best 57.63.

Boys 200-yard freestyle: Jorge Depassier, 10, third, career-best 2:14.25; Ricardo Roche, 10, fifth, career-best 2:14.65.

Girls 1,000-yard freestyle: Carly Swanson, 12, third, career-best 11:52.06; Leonie Davies, 13, fifth, career-best 10:57.63.

Girls 50-yard backstroke: Kelley Heron, 10, fourth, 34.08; Zoey Chilcote, 10, sixth, career-best 35.60.

Girls 100-yard butterfly: Maria Lopez, 14, fourth, career-best 58.76; Alvena Walpole, 9, fifth, career-best 1:15.02.

Girls 200-yard freestyle: Kelley Heron, 10, fifth, 2:14.93.

Girls 200-yard backstroke: Amber Hunter, 14, sixth, career-best 2:19.09.

“The young swimmers swam incredibly well,” Lockie said. “It took a lot of hard training. I anticipate a few more good swims over the next two days and we could have some more on the All-Star team. We’re not done yet.”

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4comets.com

http://www.csscswim.com/

CORAL SPRINGS SWIM CLUB HAS BANNER NIGHT

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

The Coral Springs Swim Club dominated Day Two of the Florida Gold Coast Short Course Junior Olympic Championships Friday night at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

Several of the team’s age group swimmers bounced back from the windy and rain-soaked morning prelims to win individual titles, post career-best times and qualify for the April 10-11 Florida Gold Coast vs. Florida Swimming All-Star meet at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce.

With 34 qualifiers in the four-day meet, Coral Springs made its presence known from the opening 1,000-yard freestyle event.

“I didn’t really expect this good a night,” said Coral Springs age group coach Bruno Darzi. “The first two meets of the season were rough because it was too much fun and games and not so much training. They weren’t mentally prepared but ever since we had a meeting and talked about it, they have improved.

“I am happy with the results so far considering the morning weather,” Darzi said. “It was cold and the kids had a hard time moving but they were still able to swim pretty well and this afternoon was even better.”

Emma Lincoln, 14, competing in only her third 1,000 freestyle race, finished second in a career-best 10 minutes, 26.24 seconds. Her previous best was 10:46.87.

Lincoln came back later in the night to win the 200-yard freestyle, her favorite event, in 1:55.76, another career-best, dropping from 1:57.94.

“I was pretty excited swimming it,” said Lincoln, who has been swimming since age 8. “I was a little nervous before because of the weather but I felt really good in the water. The first 500 I went out a little fast and then I started to feel it but I kept going. I didn’t expect that big a time drop. I see such a big improvement in my swimming. I really love it here.”

Lincoln, a former basketball and soccer player and ballet and tap dancer, qualified for seven JO events.

“I am glad I stayed with swimming, I want to go to the Olympics some day,” she said.

BOISSON-YATES FINE TUNING

Taravella’s Keegan Boisson-Yates, 14, of Trinidad and Tobago is right on schedule in his training for the April 3-6 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships at the National Stadium Pool in Kingston, Jamaica. The Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) event is the annual age group championships for the Caribbean which Boisson-Yates has qualified for the fourth time.

The talented teenager won the 200-yard freestyle Friday night in a career-best 1:48.74, dropping from his previous best of 1:51.29 and was second in the 200-yard backstroke in 2:02.23,  another career-best swim, bettering his previous best of 2:06.98.

Boisson-Yates, who has been swimming for six years, and his family moved to South Florida in January.

“I wasn’t horrible when I started swimming but I wasn’t good, I gradually got better and by the time I was 13, I was one of the best in my age group,” Boisson-Yates said.

“I am training for CARIFTA and not at my peak yet,” Boisson-Yates said.

He hopes one day to compete in the Olympics.

“We don’t have many famous swimmers in Trinidad, we have a couple and only one Olympic medalist. I am very motivated. I would like to be the first gold medalist. It was a sacrifice to move here but I am glad we made the move. I love training here. The atmosphere makes me feel like an elite swimmer.”

Boisson-Yates has four remaining events to swim.

Teammate Marco Hosfeld, 13, was second in the 200-yard freestyle in a career-best 1:48.88. “In the beginning when my mom put me in swimming I didn’t like it so much but then I started to work hard and actually succeed a little bit and I wanted to continue,” Hosfeld said. “I was pretty happy with my swim tonight but there is more to come. Hopefully, I can do better.”

CAMPO GAINING EXPERIENCE

At 12, Stephanie Campo, 12, is picking up valuable experience at a young age.

A high school state meet qualifier as a seventh grader at Coral Springs Charter, Campo won the 200-yard backstroke in a career-best 2:13.70. Her previous best was 2:17.65. She also placed second in the 200-yard freestyle in 2:01.01, another career-best. Her previous best was 2:02.46.

“I was surprised I went that fast, this is my best JOs,” said Campo, who has been swimming since age 4.

“I felt really smooth in the water,” said Campo, who qualified for seven events. “I wasn’t tired. I just kept going and going. I think this is a big breakthrough meet for me. I was happy and satisfied today but I have two more days.”

MOODIE HAS BREAKTHROUGH

After hitting a plateau, Jenna Moodie, 14, swam a career-best 1:56.85 to finish third among a competitive 200-yard freestyle girls field. Her previous best was 1:58.98 she dropped from her 2:00.51 seed time in morning prelims.

“I haven’t really dropped my times in a few years, I was at this plateau because I was growing and stuff,” said the 5-foot-8 Cypress Bay freshman. “It’s finally nice to drop. I have been working hard.”

Moodie, who grew up in Barbados and learned to swim for water safety on the island, has been swimming since age 5.  She has six events remaining.

Other top Coral Springs finishers were:

Eden Cooke, 10, third in the 50-yard backstroke in a career-best 33.53. She was also third in the 200-yard freestyle in a career-best 2:12.47.

Kelly Kealty, 12, fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke in a career-best 1:15.01.

Philomena Fiorenzi, 14, tied for fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:11.50

Jenna Diaz, 12, sixth in the 200-yard backstroke in 2:26.21. She swam a career-best 2:25.87 in morning prelims. She was also sixth in the 200-yard freestyle in a career-best 2:07.07.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.csscswim.com

http://www.swim4comets.com

DAVIES, SWANSON LEAD COMETS ON DAY ONE

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

CORAL SPRINGS—When it comes to swimming, the sky is the limit  for Leonie Davies.

The British-born teenager has her sights clearly set on making her mark in a sport that she quickly fell in love with at age 7 when she started taking lessons in northern England. 

After six years of hard work and dedication, first at the Bel Air Aquatic Club in Maryland and now with the Comets’ program, her progress has been remarkable.

Davies, 13, made her sectional cut in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a career-best time of 18 minutes, 25.16 seconds on the opening day of the Florida Gold Coast Junior Olympic Championships Wednesday at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

Davies’ previous best time was 18:42.49. She now has seven sectional cuts in long and short course events.

Davies placed fourth among the eight-swimmer field. Geena Squartino, 14, of SwimFast won in 18:03.43.

“I was hoping for a best time so this is good and I am happy,” Davies said. “The last time my back end of my swim was slow, so I’m glad I could pick it up.”

Davies said she likes the longer races.

“It feels good when you finish them,” said Davies, who started out a backstroker and added distance events three years ago.

“It feels like an accomplishment plus I am not a very good sprinter. I love the adrenaline rush when I’m competing in the longer races. They give me more time to think about what I am doing rather than in the short races where you just go.

“I have been more of a distance swimmer so it’s nice to get my events out of the way so it doesn’t look so bad when I do bad in my other races.”

The mile was the first of seven events Davies will swim over three days when the meet resumes on Friday.

“I love the water,” said Davies, who trains six days a week. “I like my team. It’s more competitive and serious. I like to work hard. When I moved into the Gold group I realized that I had potential and I could really do something here.

“I want to go to the Olympics one day. I think it would be pretty cool. I like reaching for the stars. My heart is really into this. I know it is hard work but swimming is my priority.”

As a freshman on the West Broward swim team, Davies qualified for the state high school meet on the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays.

SWANSON GOES THE DISTANCE

Carly Swanson is a quick study.

In only her second mile race, the 12-year-old swam a career-best time of 19:34.02 in the 11-12 age division.

“I swam 500s in practice and I really liked doing them so I asked my coach and she said she would put me in distance events,” said Swanson, who qualified for JOs in seven events.

“The first time I swam the mile I held a really good pace so I got to swim it a second time. I really like it. I know it’s going to get harder when I swim faster times. My goal is to drop my time in every race.”

Swanson, a sixth grader at St. Mark Catholic School in Southwest Ranches, said she loves having friends on the team and cheering for her. After gymnastics, soccer and dance classes, Swanson said swimming is her first love.

“I would like to swim through high school and college,” Swanson said. “I want to keep trying at everything to see what my best events are.”

MESA LEADS BOYS’ TEAM

Alfredo Mesa, 11, was the top boys’ finisher in the 1,650-yard freestyle.

Mesa, who entered the meet with a 20:12.32 seed time, swam a career-best 19:38.79. He was one of eight swimmers in the boys’ 11-12 race to better the previous FGJO mark of 22:17.09.

Two other Comet swimmers turned in career-best times in the 11-12 race. Raphael Mora, 11, was fourth in 19:40.75, bettering his previous best of 20:43.12.  Alex Viloria, 12, was sixth in 20:43.39, bettering his previous best of 20:57.73.

In the boys’ 13-14 division, Blake Kelley, 14, was fifth in 17:30.38 and Javier Menchaca, 14, turned in his first short course time of 18:48.52.

After a rest day on Thursday, the four-day meet resumes Friday with a full schedule of preliminary and final events at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex. 

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4comets.com

http://www.csscswim.com/

COMETS HEADED TO “BIG DANCE”

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

The Comets will compete this week in what age group coach Luis Soler calls “The Big Dance.”

After an impressive showing at last weekend’s District II South Short Course Championships, the Comets have qualified a large  contingent  for this week’s Florida Gold Coast Junior Olympics Short Course Championships at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

The four-day meet begins Wednesday with timed finals in the 1,650-yard freestyle distance event. Warm-up is 3:30 p.m. The girls and boys races begin at 5 p.m.

The meet takes a day off on Thursday and resumes Friday through Sunday.

“This is what these kids have worked for all season,” Soler said. “They know when they get to this meet it’s because they worked hard and put in the time. Now it’s their time to end the short course season on a good note.”

The Comets qualified seven swimmers—five boys and two girls—for the 1,650.

The girls contingent is Leonie Davies, 13, with a seed time of 18 minutes and 42.49 seconds and Carly Swanson, 12, 20:44.54.

The boys qualifiers are Blake Kelley, 14, 17:29.81; Javier Menchaca, 14, 19:37.08; Alfredo Mesa, 11, 20:12.32; Raphael Mora, 11, 20:43.12 and Alexander Viloria, 12, 20:57.73.

The season-ending meet is the most prestigious short course event of the season. It is open to all Florida Gold Coast swimmers who achieved qualifying times during  the season.

The public is welcome to come out and watch some of South Florida’s top age group swimmers.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

March 9, 2010