7 Manta Rays swim at junior champs
Manta Rays swim
CLARKSTON — The Moses Lake Manta Rays took seven swimmers to the 2016 Junior Championships in Clarkston recently.
This is a highly competitive meet where swimmers from all around eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon and northern Idaho compete in a three-day prelims and finals format.
Representing Moses Lake was Maisie Becker, Owen Devine, Melody Lake, Jordan Pack, Kade Pack, Brittney Richeson and Cody Tate.
On the men’s side of the meet, Manta Ray Aquatics was led by Jordan Pack (14), who earned a second place finish in his 400 individual medley and two third place finishes in the 50 freestyle and 200 butterfly.
His younger brother, Kade Pack, also had a stand-out meet, cutting time in nearly all of his events and breaking the seven-minute barrier in his 500 freestyle with a time of 6 minutes, 58.66 seconds.
New swimmers Cody Tate and Owen Devine also had strong performances at their first ever championship format swim meet. Tate had three top eight finishes in the 50 butterfly, 100 breaststroke and 200 freestyle, and Devine had five top eight finishes in the 50 backstroke, 100 backstroke, 100 individual medley, 50 breaststroke and 200 freestyle.
The team of Kade Pack, Owen Devine, Cody Tate and Jordan Pack also had a second place finish in the 14-and-under 400 freestyle relay, where they shaved four seconds in a final time of 5 minutes, 34.63 seconds.
On the women’s side, Mantra Ray Aquatics was led by 13-year-old Richeson, who has shown her rising potential all season.
Richeson earned top eight finishes in all five of her individual swims; she placed third in the 500 freestyle with a time of 6 minutes, 16.53 seconds, qualifying for the Inland Empire Short Course Championship swim meet in the process.
10-year-old Becker demonstrated her rising potential in the sport with seven top eight finishes throughout the meet. Becker had two third place finishes in the 50 freestyle and 50 backstroke, two second place finishes in the 50 breaststroke and 200 individual medley, and a first place finish in the 100 freestyle, where she won her age group in a time of 1 minute, 18.11 seconds.
Her teammate Lake also had a break-out performance this weekend, winning the 50 breaststroke in a time of 45.37 seconds and qualifying for the Inland Empire Short Course Championship swim meet hosted in Moses Lake at the end of the month.