Swimmers Break Records in Baltimore
Bermuda swimmers took part in the Mid-Summer Classic meet this past weekend [July 8-11], hosted by the North Baltimore Aquatic Club.
Richard Goodwin, Co National Coach said, “The meet attracted almost 900 swimmers from the Eastern U.S. seaboard, as well as 23 swimmers from the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association. The North Baltimore Aquatic Club is the training base for the #1 swimmer in the world, Michael Phelps, who will shortly be heading to Shanghai, China for the 14th FINA World Championships. Phelps put in a brief training appearance, much to the delight of the swimmers, but quickly left after he was spotted and before he could be mobbed.”
For Bermuda, 9 year old Emma Harvey was the swimmer of the meet, as she broke 5 Bermuda age group records. These were in the 50m and 100m Butterfly, the 50m Breaststroke, the 100m Backstroke and the 200m Individual Medley.
The 50m and 100m Butterfly records were previously held by Ashley Yearwood. The 50m Breaststroke was lowered by almost 4 seconds to 0:46.72 and the 100m Backstroke record by 2 seconds to a new standard of 1:27.87. But it was the 200m Individual Medley event which saw the biggest drop. Previously set by Harvey only 2 months ago, she lowered it by 4 seconds in the heats and a further 4 seconds in the finals, so that it now stands at 3:05.16.
Her teammate, Ashley Irby, celebrating her 10th birthday, managed to break 2 age group records herself, those being in the 100m Breaststroke and the 200m Backstroke. Both of these records were already hers and she lowered them by almost 7 seconds and 2 seconds respectively to 1:40.31 and 3:10.30.
Brittany Siddle, also 10, in her first meet in a long course meet, had the temporary satisfaction of being a record holder for 2 minutes as she also dipped under the previous 50m Breaststroke record with a great swim of 0:48.62.
In the 9 and 10 Boys, Alex Pilgrim advanced to 2 finals in the 50m Freestyle and Backstroke events. Shannon Hassell, competing in the 11 and 12 Girl’s age group, made the finals in the 50m Backstroke. In the Boys 11 and 12 age group, both Shannon Botelho and Tyler Smith had an excellent meet, each making 4 finals. Botelho had a 5th place finish in the 50m Freestyle, a 6th place in the 100m Freestyle, a 7th place in the 50m Backstroke and a 9th place in the 50m Breaststroke. Smith finished in 3rd place in the 400m Freestyle, a pair of 4th place finishes in the 200m Freestyle and 200m backstroke and a 6th place in the 100m Backstroke, as well as establishing a record in the 1,500m freestyle event.
Goodwin, concluded, “This was a great meet for the BASA team. The team was composed in equal measure of boys and girls, young and old, rookies and veterans, but all managed to acquit themselves with distinction. It gave everyone the opportunity to swim outside of their comfort zones and at a level to match their individual abilities. The caliber of the meet was high; there were many top rated swimmers at this meet, including some senior swimmers who have made the US Olympic trial qualifications. Consequently, all swimmers who made finals found themselves in a fiercely contested affair for honors which proved to be a real test of their mettle and determination.”
Well Done Bermuda Swimmers.