Morgan Hill – The Makos swim team opened the short course season
in fine form Saturday competing against almost 700 swimmers from
the Silicon Valley Aquatic Association.
Morgan Hill – The Makos swim team opened the short course season in fine form Saturday competing against almost 700 swimmers from the Silicon Valley Aquatic Association.
The short course season, which started in early September, continues through the end of March/beginning of April.
The short course season, which utilizes a 25-yard course (half of the Olympic or long course 50-meters), helps prepare elite swimmers to qualify for the US Olympic Trials.
“Typically, this early in the season, fast times are not to be expected, as most swimmers are coming off summer breaks or working on new techniques,” Makos head coach Mark Scott said.
The 35 Makos participating in Saturday and Sunday’s events at Gunderson High School in San Jose managed 70 percent of the best times, and snagged 15 new B times along with new A and AA division times.
Eduardo Hernandez, 10, earned four new A times. All his swims were personal bests, and he finished the meet with a couple thirds and first place in the C division.
Closely following Hernandez’s effort were Daniel Pawlak, 11, and Evan Richardson, 9, both with two new B times.
Pawlak’s first time ever swims in the 500-yard freestyle and the 1,650-meter freestyle garnered a first and second in the C division, and his 50-meter freestyle time was good enough to capture third in the B Division.
Prashan Wilipitiya, 13, dropped 17 seconds off his 200-meter freestyle, got a new B time and won the C division race.
Janice Kim, 11, Derek Bowman, 13, Ivan Bracy, 8, Austin Calvert, 8, and Ricki Cruz, 8, each earned a new B time.
Mika Itow, 8, showcased the fine performances for the Makos talented younger swimmers, swimming to a new A time in the 100-meter freestyle, and a new B time in the 50-meter fly with a first place C division finish.
Rachel Cretcher, 14, placed well in the A+ division of the 13-18 year old girls, with two seconds and a third place.
Cretcher is also a freshman at Live Oak and a starter on the water polo team.
Dropping more than five seconds off of her personal best in the 200-meter freestyle, Cretcher earned a second place finish and a new AA time in that event.
Karen McElheny, 14, scored two thirds and a seventh in the A+ Division, with more than half of her swims personal bests.
Leading the way for the Makos were Macie Kerr, 13, with a win in the 100-meter breaststroke and second in the 200-meter breaststroke, and Estelle Richardson, 15, with second and third place wins.
“All Makos senior swimmers are miles ahead of their performances this time last year with some excellent early season training under their belts already,” Scott said.
Next up for the Makos is the West Coast Aquatics C/B/A+ Meet Oct. 27-28.
