Impressive highlights from Rockwall Aquatic Center of Excellence’s long course swim season

(ROCKWALL – September 22, 2013) The Rockwall Aquatic Center of Excellence (RACE) has just begun its 5th year of swimming.  During the recently completed Long Course Season, RACE had an impressive showing at several Championship meets in texas and on both the East Coast and West Coast of the nation.

The Junior National Championship was held in Irvine, California, August 5-9.  Commonly referred to as Jr Nats, it  is the premier National competition for swimmers 18 &Under.  RACE swimmer Jared Butler went into the meet qualified 141^st in the 200 back and 50^th in the 200 IM.  He started out the meet jumping up 84 places in the 200 back and ended up 57^th.  In Jared’s best event, the 200 IM, he came into the meet ranked 50^th.  He jumped up 31 places after his preliminary swim and became the first RACE swimmer ever to qualify for a final at a Junior National Championship meet!  Along with making finals, Jared’s time in the 200 IM qualified him for the US Open Championship.

The Southern Zone Sectional Championship was held in Conroe, Texas.  This is an open meet with no age groupings, and therefore is attended by both college and high school swimmers competing side by side. Representing RACE this year were Emily Manly and Raena Eldridge. These two produced 3 Top 16 finishes with one of the highlights coming from Raena Eldridge, who achieved the US Open Championship qualification standard in the 100 fly earning her a 2nd place finish.  Her time of 1:01.99 would have qualified for last year’s Olympic Trials.  Her time in the 100 fly also made her the first RACE swimmer to ever qualify for the US Open.

Southern Zone Age Group Championships are held each year. Swimmers are selected by the North Texas LSC (Local Swim Committee) from among the dozens of clubs in North Texas to represent our LSC at one of the four Zone Championships held across the USA. Six RACE swimmers were selected by the North Texas LSC to represent our LSC at the Southern Zone Championships in Greenville, South Carolina.  Out of those 6 swimmers, RACE had 4 Top 8 finishes.  One of those swimmers, Haylie Harbin, finished at the top of the podium in the 800 free.

The Texas Age Group Swimming (TAGS) Championships is held in Austin every year at the end of the Long Course season.  This Championship meet has very fast qualification standards and showcases the fastest 14 & Under swimmers from across the state.  RACE had 14 TAGS qualifiers this summer and had 21 Top 16 finishes.  Jace Brown came away from the meet with three wins in the 11-12 age-group.  Those events included the 50 back, 100 fly, and 50 fly.  Congratulations to Jace and the rest of his TAGS teammates!

A/BB Champs is a North Texas championship meet that was held in Mansfield this year. RACE had 63 swimmers participate and had 88 Top 8 finishes.  Out of those 88 Top 8 finishers, RACE had 4 winners.  These swimmers included:

·           Margot Little, 11-12 200 fly

·           Johann Kuipers, 11-12 800 free

·           Emma Hultquist, 11-12 200 back, 400 free

·           Kiley Harmon, 10 & Under 200 free

Story submitted by Eric Eldridge. Photos by Andy Ringgold.

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