Manta Rays have big weekend in pool, behind top performances

BREWSTER - Over the weekend, the Manta Rays competed in Brewster and had strong swims by Jackson Fair, Zachary Washburn, Josiah Johnston and Amber Garrett.

Especially noteworthy, were that two of the longest held records on the team were broken within 30 minutes of eachother.

Jackson Fair, 8, broke the 25-yard backstroke record set in 1982 by Chris Bolla.  Fair had come close before but finally broke the record with a swim of 19.74.

Zachary Washburn, 7, also broke the record but was out-touched by Fair.  Not to be outdone, thirty minutes later Washburn then swam a scorching 25-yard butterfly, breaking the 28-year old record of Craig Myhre set in 1983.  

The two of them, and the entire Moses Lake Manta Ray Team, will be competing in the Inland Empire Championships this weekend in Pasco. The meet begins Friday.

Brenden Eslich and Zachary Johnston, who won all of their events at the Moses Lake meet two weeks ago, are favored to place well this weekend.