Manta Rays solid at IMX Challenge

SPOKANE — Ten swimmers from the Manta Ray Aquatics team attended the IMX Challenge in Spokane recently.

All swimmers posted best times in their events. Kylan Chivers kicked off the meet with a ten-second drop in his 100 individual medley and later took 30 seconds off his 100 breaststroke.

Chivers was soon followed by Aidan Devine, who posted a 26-second drop in his 100 butterfly, for a time of 1:47.17. Damien Paluch, in only his second meet, had a five-second drop in his 50 backstroke and Issac Patten posted a four-second drop in his 100 backstroke. His brother, Tanner Patten, had a three-second drop in his 100 butterfly.

Brothers Dylan and Nicholas Moore had some impressive swims as well. Dylan had a four-second drop in his 50 breaststroke and Nicholas cut over two minutes off his 500 freestyle, finishing in 7:00.56.

Nicholas, along with Kylan, Aidan and Isaac had a fourth place finish in the medley relay. Zachary Washburn took first place in the 100 freestyle, with a time of 51.64. He also dropped 13 seconds in his 200 butterfly, finishing second.

With only two girls on the competing team, Laurel Knox and Jessica Williams had notable swims as well. Laurel had an amazing 34-second drop in her 200 breaststroke and a nine second cut in her 100 backstroke. Jessica Williams placed third in her 200 breaststroke and first in the 100 breaststroke, with a time of 1:16.29.

Eric Kemper excels in Spokane

Submitted by Randy Kemper

SPOKANE — Eric Kemper, 14-year-old unattached swimmer from Moses Lake, traveled to Spokane this past weekend to participate in the 2016 IMX Challenge.

Kemper placed in the top four in all 10 of the events he swam, five of those events he finished in first place, and got best times in eight of those events.

Kemper came in first place in the 200 IM. He dropped almost four seconds in the event for a best time of 2:08.94. In the 200 buttefly, Kemper also came in first place for a best time of 2:05.48; he also came in first in the 400 IM with an incredible time drop of almost 10 full seconds for a best time of 4:38.9.

In the 100 butterfly, Kemper also came in first with a best time of 56.11 seconds; also first place in the 200 backstroke with a best time of 2:13.95.

Kemper came in seconds in the 500 freestyle, dropping over seven seconds for a best time of 5:14.95.

Kemper also took second in the 100 backstroke, and the 100 freestyle. In the 200 breaststroke, Kemper came in third place and dropped 10.5 seconds for a best time of 2:32.5 In the 100 breaststroke.

Kemper took fourth, taking about a half second off for a best time of 1:12.75.