Young freestyler makes case for being Makos’ first
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big-meet swimmer
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in years
SANTA CLARITA — Swimming in her first U.S. Swimming Sectional Championships, Christiana Bridges experienced more than a bit of nerves last week.
About 1,300 athletes, representing more than 200 teams from Pacific Swimming, Southern California, San Diego-Imperial, Sierra Nevada and Central California swim clubs, entered the five-day meet that began July 21 in balmy Santa Clarita Aquatic Center. Bridges, 14, was among a dozen 13- or 14-year-olds competing in a field of 150-plus participants in her events: the 400- and 800-meter freestyle.
“It was a different kind of meet, like nothing else I’ve done before,” she said. “I was a lot more focused and motivated to do my best.”
Bridges kept the butterflies in check and made her case for being Morgan Hill Swim Club’s first “big-meet swimmer” in years. She improved by almost 11 seconds in the 400 free, placing second in her heat in four minutes, 50.21 seconds, and climbed more than 20 spots in the final placings. The Sobrato High School sophomore bettered the Pacific reportable time and closed in on the top 20 in Pacific Swimming for her age group.
Bridges’ 800 free was even better. She went out roughly 1 1/2 seconds slower than her personal record at 400 meters, then came back at the same pace, erasing more than 10 seconds off her old PR while winning her heat by almost 6 meters. Bridges’ time (9:42.49) was 17 seconds under the Pacific reportable standard and ranks seventh in Pacific Swimming with one local long course meet left this season.
“To be honest, I didn’t think I could go that fast,” Bridges said.
It has been a while since a Morgan Hill Mako swam in Sectionals, let alone had as good a showing as Bridges’ in a major competition, Morgan Hill coach Mark Scott said. The qualifying standards for Sectionals are designed for elite swimmers.
“She’s always put out some really good efforts in big meets,” Scott said of Bridges. “This time, she trained well enough to finish the darn thing.
“She’s learned a lot lately– and she’s trained a lot lately. This sport requires a lot of mental and physical toughness. There’s no way to get this far unless you put the time in at practice.”
Bridges has done just that, building off an impressive freshman season that saw her reach the Central Coast Section meet in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle. She is also training in individual medley swims.
“I’ve been pushing myself a lot,” Bridges said. “My parents, friends and my coach have been really supportive. They’ve helped me a lot.”
Morgan Hill Swim Club’s top freestyler can add to her resume this weekend as the Far Western Championships pick up in Concord.
