Morgan Hill Swim Club sending five to Far Westerns
CONCORD — The Summer Junior Olympics meet was the largest and fastest ever, with more than 1,300 competitors from roughly 120 Pacific Swimming teams. The competition — not to mention the 100-degree weather — was so intense, nearly half the teams did not score points.
But the Morgan Swim Club members who made the trip to Concord did; the Makos placed in the top 40.
Freestyler Eduardo Hernandez celebrated his 12th birthday by winning the 1,500 meters, placing second in the 800 meters and narrowly missing the finals in the 400 meters. Hernandez snagged a new Far Western qualifying time in the 200-meter freestyle and recorded personal-record times in 5 of 6 events.
Christiana Bridges also scored well for the Makos, winning the 1,500-meter freestyle and taking fourth in the 800 meters. The 13-year-old set new Q times in both events.
Morgan Hill’s Elijah Urbina, 10, was close to scoring the entire weekend, placing 10th in several preliminaries (only the top-eight finishers advanced to finals). His 50-meter butterfly was fast enough to earn a new Q time.
Teammate Victoria Martini, 10, also earned two new Q times in the 50- and 100-meter butterfly.
Ricki Cruz, 10, and Kaitlin Rooney, 9, of the Makos, swam in their first-ever Long Course Junior Olympics.
Sesa Ferdun, 11, Tanner Fry, 10, Karen McElheny, 16, Lauren Akin, 11, and Gabrielle Smith, 13, also competed for Morgan Hill.
The Makos’ Long Course season ends with Pacific Swimming’s Far Western Championships, which begin Wednesday, July 29, in San Jose. Hernandez, Urbina, Martini, Bridges and Smith will represent the team at what promises to be the biggest, fastest Far Western meet ever.
