Manta Ray Aquatics solid at 2016 Long Course Championships
Zachary Washburn won all eight of his events at the 2016 Long Course Championships in Pasco.
PASCO — Manta Ray Aquatics took 14 of its fastest swimmers to the Inland Empire Long Course Championships in Pasco recently.
This was a qualification meet with a preliminaries/finals format all three days.
There were multiple notable performances by Moses Lake athletes over the course of the weekend. On the men’s side, participating in his first championship meet, Matthew Cramer cut three seconds in his 100 breaststroke. His teammate, Aidan Devine, also had an outstanding performance in his 100 breaststroke, shaving seven seconds off his previous best time. This was in addition to a break-out performance by Devine in the 50 freestyle later that same day.
Aidan Devine was joined on Sunday by his brother, Owen Devine, who had an outstanding day of competition, cutting a combined total of 27 seconds between his three individual swims (50 backstroke, 50 butterfly, 100 freestyle). Rounding out the Men’s 10 and Under division was Anthony Alvarez, who pulled-off a Top 10 finish in his 100 butterfly with a personal best time.
On the women’s side, Azaray Alvarez earned five personal best times in the 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, 50 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, and 200 freestyle. Her friend and training partner, Julia Heaps, also earned two personal best times during the second day of competition in the 50 breaststroke and 100 backstroke.
Many impressive swims were attained by Manta Ray swimmers in the middle age groups. Jaydyn Johnson-Pugh had an impressive cut of four seconds in her 100 breaststroke on the first day of competition. Aniston Dana had three personal best swims in the 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, and 50 butterfly. Jessica Williams also had three personal bests in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, and 1500 freestyle.
William’s mile was particularly notable, with a full minute time drop and a sixth place finish with a time of 21:00.06. Cole Lindberg achieved a fourth place finish in his 200 butterfly, as well as an eighth place finish and four-second cut in his 100 butterfly.
His teammate, Zachary Washburn, swept all eight of his individual events in the 11-12 age group. Washburn crushed four championship meet records over the course of the weekend in the 200 individual medley, 200 freestyle, 50 butterfly, and 100 freestyle. Washburn continues to train for the prestigious Western Zones Championship meet in Kearns, Utah which is set to start next week.
The team was paced by the leadership of the three 15 and Over Manta Ray swimmers: Noah Heaps, Cora Dana and Megan Washburn. Noah Heaps had five personal bests during the course of the meet, as well as a fourth place finish in the 400 freestyle, fourth place in the 400 individual medley, and fifth place in the 100 backstroke.
Cora Dana had three personal bests in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke and 100 butterfly. Cora Dana’s time in her butterfly earned her a sixth place finish in the event.
Finally, 17 year-old Megan Washburn competed in her last USA swim meet before her upcoming transition to collegiate swimming. Washburn achieved five personal bests in the 200 individual medley, 400 individual medley, 100 breaststroke, 200 backstroke and 100 butterfly. Her time in the 400 individual medley earned her a fifth place finish in the event. Megan Washburn will compete for Whitworth University in the upcoming 2016-2017 academic season. Her leadership skills and dedication to training will be missed by her teammates and the coaching staff.
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