Coaches Praise Swimmers After Time Trial
Many of our local swimmers turned out solid performances, Sharks Head Coach/BASA National Coach Ben Smith and Harbour Head Coach Richard Goodwin said after the Qualification Time Trial Meet at the BASA Pool held on Saturday [Feb.25].
Sharks Head Coach and BASA National Coach Ben Smith said, “The qualification meet held over the weekend was another opportunity for our young swimmers to test themselves against the clock and try to make times for overseas meets.
“Many of the swimmers that had just recently participated in the Florida training camp were participant in the meet and we saw instant improvement from many of them. Several swimmers swam personal best times in the 2 events that they participated in.
“Of special note for me was Philip Hagen who was able to bring both of his times very close to the Carifta qualifying times. Brittany Siddle also came on strong with two times that put her in striking position”.
“Shannon Hassell continues to improve her times and was able to get very close to the harder qualifying times for this summer’s CISC meet.”
Harbour Head Coach Richard Goodwin said, “Ashley Irby had an excellent meet, as she broke Ashley Yearwood’s 9 and 10 age group record in the 50 meter butterfly, with a great effort of 0:35.41, breaking the record by over ½ a second”.
All of the Harbour swimmers swam very well with a 75% conversion of swims in the meet to new personal bests.
Coach Goodwin echoed Ben Smith’s sentiments, “Jesse Washington had a superb, apparently almost effortless swim in the 50 freestyle, as he broke William Massey’s 11 and 12 age group record in the 50 meter freestyle, in a time of 0:26.98 seconds. He then came back and did it again in the 100 freestyle, breaking Matthew Hammond’s 11 and 12 age group record, dipping under the minute with an excellent swim of 0:59.79.”
