Video & Report: Sharks Swim Meet At Saltus
The Sharks Sprint Meet and Development Swimming Meet took place on Saturday [Oct 19] at the Saltus Pool, with their first meet of their 2013/2014 season seeing over 100 swimmers race to the touch pads.
Ben Smith, National Swimming Coach and Head Coach of the Sharks Swim Club said: “Overall I think that the first meet of the season went really well. There was a great atmosphere with lots of cheering and excitement. Even though this is such an early season test we were able to get personal best from lots of swimmers which bodes well for Bermuda Swimming having another strong season.
“The relays were a big highlight for the meet and the new crescendo relay at the end seemed to really bring the true team spirit from all clubs. I know we are all looking forward to building from this successful weekend. Rob DeSilva, Coach for Sharks Swim Club added: A special mention goes to Allie Riihiluoma, Blake Oliveira and Zach Pettingil for swimming B times which now qualifies them for standard meets.”
Brian Frick, Head Coach for the Dolphin Swim Team, said: “Coming off an intensive training cycle leading up to last week’s Round the Sound endurance swim, the Dolphin swimmers were well prepared to handle the shorter distances of this year’s first meet. The coaches were very pleased with their results, which saw almost every swimmer on the Team record Personal Best times, and over two thirds of all swims seeing lowered times from last season. In addition to better times, many kids showed huge improvements in their technique and fitness.
“In the Development meet many of our younger swimmers overcame first meet nervousness and handled their first time out with enthusiasm and strong Team spirit as they supported each other in individual swims and relays. Several of our Junior swimmers achieved sought after B times, with three: Alyson Sherer, Emily Quarterly and Elsa Stevenson, qualifying for the standard meets. The coaches are very proud of all their achievements.”
Harbour Swim Club Head Coach Shona Palmer said they began their 2013-14 season in impressive style: ”Of particular note were performances by Frankie Arnold, Angus Betts, Rynne Cash, Timothy Claude, Cameron De St Croix, Ross Cooper, Caleb Ingham, Peter Kiernan, Keon Lorentz, Jessie Marshall, Tommy Marshall, Aidan McPhail, Jude Moseley, Tilly Norman, John Norsworthy, Myles Packwood, Kerry Palmer, Nick Pilgrim, Alex Southern, Brett Smith and Jack Thorpe who all performed personal best times in all of the events in which they participated.
“Emma Harvey and Jack Harvey both performed at ‘AA’ standard, a particularly strong level in local swimming.’ In addition to this meet, multiple Harbour Swimmers in the development meet performed with ‘B’ times which are the required times to allow them to graduate up to the main meets for the season and we look forward to their performances at these meets where they will compete with the strongest swimmers in Bermuda in their age groups.’
Victor Ruberry, Coach of the Sandys 360 Stingrays, noted they had an exciting day on Saturday at the Sharks Development Meet.
Mr Ruberry said, “For two of the Stingrays, Paige Pringle and Selah Tuzo, it was their first time in a swim meet and they did exceptionally well posting respectable times and positions in their respective events in their age groups!
“For the other competitors, this was their second season in the Development meets and Kacey McGowan took 1st place in her age group in the 50M Breaststroke with a “C” standard time of 1:02:34 and she also had solid swims in her other events as well!”
“Solomon Simons also took 1st place in both his events in his age group in the 50M Backstroke with a time of 00:58:92 and in the 50M Freestyle with a time of 00:44:53 Well done everyone.”
The full results of the Sharks Swim Meet are here [PDF] the full results of the Sharks Development Meet are here [PDF] and a photo gallery of the meet is here.
