Competing in the largest nonchampionship Zone 1 South events in
years, the Makos of Morgan Hill Swim Club stepped up and delivered
one of their best efforts this short course season at the San Jose
Aquatics C/B/A-plus SCY Meet
SAN JOSE — Competing in the largest nonchampionship Zone 1 South events in years, the Makos of Morgan Hill Swim Club stepped up and delivered one of their best efforts this short course season at the San Jose Aquatics C/B/A-plus SCY Meet.
The March 13-14 event featured more than 1,300 entries, who were part of more than 5,000 swims. It was the last opportunity to qualify for the Junior Olympics, which will be held at the end of March.
For Morgan Hill, Lauren Akin dropped a couple seconds in the 200-yard butterfly to meet a JO-qualifying time. Teammate Christiana Bridges rose to the opportunity as well, winning the 500-yard freestyle and meeting a JO standard in the 400-yard individual medley.
The Makos’ results added up fast: 23 new ‘A’ times and six new ‘B’ times. Morgan Hill swimmers totaled personal-record time in 70 percent of their swims and appear on track for the championship season that begins March 26.
Nine-year-old Owen Fry set PRs in all five of his five events, Jarod Hatch, 11, collected three PRs in four, and Shelby Mitchell, 13, recorded six in seven. Harley Posada, 13, improved in six of eight races, including a monster drop in the 200-yard breaststroke. Brandon Pride reeled off five personal-best times in eight swims, Felix Sjolund, 12, was 7 for 7 in PRs, and eight-year-old Bryn Rasmussen shaved time in three events while setting a new ‘B’ time in her first 100-yard individual medley.
The Makos’ Tim Ponomarenko, 12, had a perfect meet: five PRs in as many swims, four new ‘B’ times and a new ‘A’ time in the 400 IM. Hannah Pfefferlen, 8, enjoyed an unblemished weekend as well, improving in five events and recording three new ‘A’ times. Swimming in his second meet in as many weekend, Frankie Zhang collected two new ‘A’ times and four PRs in five disciplines.
Ricki Cruz, fresh off recovering from a bout with the flu, snagged a new ‘A’ standard in the 50-yard freestyle. Tanner Fry had an excellent weekend, dropping time to record three new ‘A’ times, including an impressive one-minute-plus drop in the 400 IM. Alyssa Greymont, 12, swam to four PRs and cleaned up the remaining ‘B’ time on her entry list with a new ‘A’ time in the 50-yard butterfly.
Omar Insignares snagged a new ‘B’ time and a new ‘A’ time with a 10-second drop in the 100-yard breaststroke. Devon Macdonald, 13, earned an ‘A’ time in her first 400 IM and dropped to a new ‘A’ standard in the 100-yard butterfly. Mackenzie Mitchell, 12, missed out on a perfect 8-for-8 weekend of PRs by one swim but made up for that with four new ‘A’ times, including a 25-second drop in the 200-yard individual medley, which had been a ‘C’ standard. Kenisha Johnson, 12, also reeled off four new ‘A’ times.
Last month, Morgan Hill swimmers dealt with bad weather, cold and flu sickness and a plenty of tough competition at the West Coast Aquatics C/B/A-plus Short Course Yards meet held Feb. 6-7 at Independence High School.
With a little more than 1,000 entries, there were 20-plus heats in the popular events, but the Makos swam well.
Amanda Giacobbe, 13, collected four new PRs, including a new ‘B’ standard in the 100-yard freestyle. Mackenzie Mitchell earned two personal-best times and a new ‘B’ time in the 100 IM, dropping close to 10 seconds. Nine-yard-old Brandon Pride managed two PRs, including a new ‘B’ time in the 100 free that saw him shave six seconds. Zhang zoomed off four PRs; among those a new ‘B’ time in his first 200 IM.
Johnson entered four events and achieved a PR in each. She snagged a new ‘A’ time in the 100 free. Akin locked down three personal bests, including a new JO-qualifying standard in the 500 free. Kaitlin Rooney, 9, logged in a half dozen PRs; one of them a JO time in the 100 IM.
