Manta Ray trio competes at state senior championships
Courtesy photo Manta Ray Aquatics swimmers (from let to right) Noah Heaps, Zach Washburn and Jessica Williams competed at the Washinton Senior State Championships recently.
FEDERAL WAY — A total of three elite swimmers from Manta Ray Aquatics traveled to the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way recently to compete in the prestigious Washington State Senior Championship Meet.
Noah Heaps (17), Jessica Williams (15), and Zachary Washburn (14) all had to achieve difficult qualifying times to attend this meet.
Heaps and Washburn kicked off the meet with best times in the 50 freestyle, swimming 23.5 and 22.2 (new team record), respectively. Williams dropped over four seconds in her 200 breaststroke and a second in her 50 breaststroke, setting a new team record in the 50 that had stood for 10 years.
Heaps set a new team record in the 50 backstroke, lowering the previous record by almost two seconds. Washburn dropped over seven seconds in his 200 breaststroke, breaking a 22-year-old team record by four seconds. He also qualified for finals in the 100 freestyle, finishing in 21st place, and also setting a new team record as well as a new Inland Empire Swimming record.