Best of Best Swimming Series Report
Ben Smith, National Coach and Sharks Swim Club Head Coach reported on the Best of BEST Series conclusion that took place on Saturday, April 30th with strong finishes by local swimmers. Below are comments from the Head Coaches of the Sharks Swim Club, Harbour Swim Club and the Dolphin Swim Team.
Ben Smith from the Sharks Swim Club noted the Best series of three meets was very successful again this year and was very encouraged to see how many swimmers entered the meets from the 3 clubs. He hopes to see participation from Sandy’s 360 shortly as they continue to build their program. From a Sharks perspective we were pleased with the high number of personal best swims that were achieved in the meet and the progress of our younger swimmers.
Nick Patterson and Jesse Washington [pictured below] coming off their strong swimming at the Carifta Championship continued to show improvement in the fly events. Nicholas lowered his records in both the 200 and 100 butterfly in his last meet in the 15 and 16 age group. As fast as Nick can break the records in the 15 and 16 age group; Jesse is keen to break Nick’s records from the 11&12 age group. The 200 fly was his first record short course and he lowered it by 5 seconds.
Lisa Blackburn fresh off her record setting performances overseas continued her improvement with a new record in the 100 IM and in the 50 breaststroke. I was encouraged by the way she swam the 50 breast in particular as she seems to be getting the speed at the right time in her preparation for World qualification.
It has been a grueling month of training camps, Overseas meets and now a local meet and I am proud of the way all of the swimmers have performed during this process. They will all be setting their sights to the Makin waves meet at the end of the month.
Richard Goodwin of the Harbour Swim Club noted their swimmers secured two new age group 4 x 50m medley relay records in the third and final meet of the Best of the BEST series.
In the boys 8 and under age group, the quartet of Matthew Nagel, Jack Thorpe, Jayson Hassell and Jack Harvey set a new record with a time of 4:01.70, chopping almost 48 seconds off of the previous record.
In the girls 9 and 10 age group, Ashley Irby, Kerry Palmer, Emma Harvey and Alyssa Paynter smashed their own relay record set last year by over 13 seconds, with a new time of 2:52.29. Emma Harvey won all three of her races as well as achieving the ASCA “A” standard in these events. This feat was duplicated by Ashley Irby. For the boys in the 9 and 10 age group, Alex Pilgrim finished in second place in the High Points competition.
In the girls 11 and 12 age group, Shannon Hassell won all three of her races and achieved an “A” standard in the 100m backstroke. In the same age group for boys, Charlie achieved “A” standards in 100m freestyle and backstroke. Tyler Smith had an excellent swim in the 200m backstroke and secured a “AA” standard.
Finally, in the boys 15 and over age group, Dejan Wellman won the 100m freestyle event, dipping under the minute for the first time and achieving a “A” standard.
Barry Hanson from the Dolphin Swim Team commented on the exciting race in the 1500 meters between two dolphin swimmers, Olivia Moore & Emily Cowan noting they kept pushing each other.
From the Dolphin girls 8 and under age group the swimmers attempted some 200s and Coach Elise is very proud of them trying to go the distance.
A long day but lots of PB’s and the Dolphin coaches were very pleased with the team’s efforts and preparation for the Best of the BEST. Thank you to the sponsors and meet officials.
Congratulations to the following Dolphins who placed in the top 3, against very tough competition, in their respective age groups:
The final standings from the Best of BEST meet were as follows:
- Female 8 & Under Age Group Male 8 & Under Age Group
- Holly Bruton – Sharks Keagan Woolley – Sharks
- Genevieve Lau – Dolphins Jack Harvey – Harbour
- Isabel Branagan – Dolphins Nick Pilgrim – Harbour
- Female 9 – 10 yr Age Group Male 9 – 10 Year Age Group
- Madelyn Moore – Sharks Evan J. Farrow – Dolphins
- Emma Harvey – Harbour Alex Pilgrim – Harbour
- Ashley Irby – Harbour Josh Irvine – Dolphins
- Female 11 – 12 yr Age Group Male 11 – 12 yr Age Group
- Shannon Hassell – Harbour Jesse Washington – Sharks
- D’Andra Seymour – Sharks Mitchell Gariepy – Sharks
- Somer Froud – Sharks Charlie Pilgrim – Harbour
- Female 13 – 14 yr Age Group Male 13 – 14 yr Age Group
- Susanna Armano – Sharks Philip Hagen – Sharks
- Sophie Froud – Sharks Denis Pasagic – Dolphins
- Anna Harrington – Sharks Noah Marshall – Sharks
- Female 15 & Over Age Group Male 15 & Over Age Group
- Emma Franklin – Sharks Nicholas Patterson – Sharks
- Lisa Blackburn – Sharks Alexander Brown – Sharks
- Alexandra Myles – Dolphins Dejan Wellman – Harbour
