It’s been a great stretch of competitive swimming for the Swim Columbus team, which showed out at the 8U Developmental Meet earlier this month and most recently had another great outing over the weekend in the Mississippi Swimming Long Course Championship.
Swim Columbus head coach Stephani Gonzalez brought a squad of 16 swimmers to compete at the long course meet, in which the team’s young aquatic athletes put on a dazzling display highlighted by a number of top-three finishes at the Tupelo Aquatic Center.
“I was really proud of my swimmers (at) this state championship. I thought they did amazing,” Gonzalez said. “It was the most relays we were able to put together in the last 10 years. We had 10-and-under girls relays, 13-14 boys and senior boys relays, so it was the most we’ve had in years. So, it was exciting to have all that going on for our team.”
The team’s best relay was in the girls 10-and-under 200M freestyle with a fourth-place finish in 2:48.94 – captured by Lucy Miller, Viola Stanley, Aria Welch and Tate Scott. Scott went on to have a fantastic championship meet herself and left with four silver medals. She captured second in the 200M freestyle in 2:53.08, second in the 50M breaststroke in 46.44, second in the 50M freestyle in 34.78 and second place in the 100M breaststroke, as well, with a time of 1:46.90.
Alexa Welch notched two top-three finishes with a second-place outing in the girls 50M breaststroke in 43.91 as well as another second-place outing in the 100M breaststroke with a time of 1:34.98. Carrying on the strong swimming from Columbus’ girls was Olivia Shivers, who notched second place in the 100M backstroke in 1:20.16 and also took home fourth in the 400M backstroke (5:41.45) and fifth in the 50M backstroke (37.79). Izzy Clark had her best race in the 100M breastroke with a fifth-place finish in 1:28.30.
For the boys, Caston McKellar captured fourth in the 15-and-over 50M butterfly in 27.62 and also landed three fifth place finishes in the 50M backstroke, the 100M breaststroke and 50M freestyle. Thomas Scott grabbed two fourth-place spots in the 200M freestyle (2:17.11) and in the 800M freestyle (10:22.73).
In the 8U Developmental Meet, Gonzalez brought a group of six swimmers who also managed to nab some podium finishes as well. Tinsley Miller earned three gold medals in the girls 50-yard freestyle (1:04.65), the 25-yard backstroke (28.73) and in the 25-yard breaststroke (31.30). She also finished second in the 25-yard butterfly (33.52) and in the 25-yard butterfly. Hixson Miller grabbed second in the boys 25-yard freestyle (36.04) and third in the 50-yard freestyle (1:29.39). Hudson Miller earned two first-place finishes in the 100-yard freestyle (1:45.72) and in the 100-yard individual medley (2:02.31). He also captured second place in the 25-yard freestyle (19.35), the 25-yard breaststroke (25.73) and the 50-yard breaststroke (57.83).
Amelia Richardson had her best outing in the 25-yard freestyle for second place (29.88) with three more third-place races along with another fourth-place finish. Ben Sherrill had his best race in the 50-yard breaststroke for third place (59.96). Rayne Upton also grabbed a second-place silver medal in the 25-yard butterfly (32.34)
The season is still on for a few swimmers. At the long course championship meet, Scott and Shivers both managed to qualify for the Southern Zone Age Group Championships, which will be held from July 29-Aug. 1 in Orlando, Fla. Gonzalez will captain the team representing Mississippi for the fourth straight year, something she said she’s excited to do once again. The biggest hassle of it all is just getting everything organized, but the trip also comes with a day spent in Disney World, so it’s worth it, she said.
“It’s the little behind-the-scenes organization that makes it a little hard, but the swimming itself, once we’re there it’s kind of smooth sailing,” Gonzalez said.
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