Manta Rays post dramatic drops in Wenatchee
Courtesy photo Manta Ray Aquatics’ Owen Devine competes at the Apple Capital Swim Meet.
WENATCHEE — Nineteen swimmers from Manta Ray Aquatics Swim Team attended the Apple Capital Swim Meet in Wenatchee this last weekend.
Over 800 swimmers from all over the state of Washington, as well as many from Canada, attended this three day meet. This is the kick-off meet to the long course season where the swimmers will now be competing in the outdoor 50-meter pools instead of the 25-yard indoor pools until the end of summer.
For many of the Manta Ray swimmers, this was the first long course meet they have competed in. Annika Burke, Rebekah and Aline Davis, Melody Lake, Lydia Jensen and Charlie Pray all tackled new long course events.
The returning swimmers had many notable swims as well. Brothers Owen and Aidan Devine both had spectacular 50-second drops in their 200 individual medley events. Aidan Devine also dropped eight seconds in his 100 freestyle. Owen Devine finished seventh in the 100 butterfly.
Cody Tate dropped 11 seconds in his 50 butterfly and 13 seconds in his 100 breaststroke. Brothers Nicholas and Dylan Moore had best times in the 50 butterfly, 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly.
Megan Washburn posted best times in her 50 backstroke and breaststroke. Zachary Washburn had a first-place finish in the 50 butterfly, a 13-second drop in the 400 individual medley and set new team records in the 50 breaststroke and 100 freestyle.
Cole Lindberg posted a best time in his 50 and 100 butterfly, edging closer to qualifying for the Western Zones Meet.
Laurel Knox bested her times in most of her events, with a nine-second drop in the 100 backstroke and an incredible eight-second drop in her 50 freestyle.
Ashton McKean posted an 18-second drop in the 50 backstroke. Brother and sister Jonah and Julia Heaps, had best times in the 50 backstroke and 100 freestyle, with Jonah finishing in fourth place in the freestyle.
Jessica Williams had a best time in the 50 breaststroke and 100 butterfly. The Manta Rays will compete in Walla Walla at the newly remodeled Memorial Pool the first weekend in July.