American relay

Swimming World and Junior Swimmer, Nov 2002

Junior Swimmer

We want to share the latest news you have about outstanding swimmers on your team or your team,g latest accomplishments. Send your letter, press release or team newsletter to Swimming World, P.O. Box 20337, Sedona, AZ 86341; fax 928-284-2477. Photos welcome!

California

Only 75 points separated Pacific Swimming from Southern California Swimming at the Western Zone Championships, held Aug. 6-10 on the campus of the University of Southern California. Pacific won the combined title with 1,880 points to Southern Califor-nia's 1,805. Southern California won the women's title over Pacific, 1,046.5 to 954, while Pacific turned the tables in the men's competition, 926 to 758.5. Oregon Swimming finfished third in all three categories (354, women; 376, men; 730, combined).

Michigan

The Oakland Live Y'ers scored 3,396.5 points to capture the Michigan Swimming Long Course Championships combined team title. West Michigan Swimmers finished in second with 3,236 points, followed by Ann Arbor YMCA with 1,823. High-point winners included Mia Michalak, Portage (10-and-under girls); Clay Youngquist, West Michigan (10-andunder boys); Dana Christ, Birmingham-Bloomfield Atlantis (11-12 girls); James DeWitte, Utica Shelby (11-12 boys); Margaret Kelly, Ann Arbor YMCA (13-14 girls); Philip Heyboer, West Michigan and Jon Larocque, Barracudas (13-14 boys); Rachael Curci, Oakland Live Y'ers (open girls); and Jay Vandenberg, Oakland Live Y'ers (open boys).

Minnesota

Swimmers from Indiana Swimming tallied 5,008 points to win the Central Zone Championships, Aug. 9-11, in St. Paul, Minn. The meet was sponsored by STAR Swim Club. Minnesota came in second with 4,150.5 points; Ozark was third with 2,968. The 10and-under high-point winners were Dagny Knutson of North Dakota and Indiana's Kyle Whitaker. Indiana swimmers Alyssa Kuras and Andrew Elliott nabbed the top spot in the 11-12 age group. Ava Ohlgren of Michigan and Ben Karwoski of Indiana were the top 13-14 athletes. Midwestern's Erin Holtmeyer and Dan Berk were the 15-18 division champs. Three zone records were set at the meet: Whitney Wodstrchill of Iowa bettered the 15-16 standards in the 100 meter back (1:07.85) and the 200 back (2:24.05), and Ohgren set the new 13-14 girls 400 meter IM mark with her 5:04.54.

New York

At the long course Eastern Zone Championships, Aug. 710, in Buffalo, Virginia Swimming won the combined team title with 1,094 points to Potomac Valley's 1,028.5 and New Jersey's 771. Individual age group high-point awards went to Andrea Staub, Maryland, and Melanie Gaffey, Metropolitan (10-and-under girls); Katie Riefenstahl, Middle Atlantic (11-12 girls); Julie Sablik, Virginia, and Aurora Lee, Connecticut (13-14 girls); Cathy Kenworthy, Potomac Valley (15-18 girls); Bryan Offutt, Maryland (10-and-under boys); Peter Park, New Jersey (11-12 boys); Jon Roberts, Niagara (13-14 boys); and Steve Brennan, Allegheny Mountain (15-18 boys).

Ohio

The Greater Toledo Aquatic Club's 13-14 boys relay of Jake Athanas, Mike Carroll, Bobby Martini and Colin Murtagh achieved NAG Top 16 times in every one of their relays at the Ohio State Long Course Championships. They posted times of 2:00.59 in the 200 meter medley relay, 3:58.25 in the 400 free relay, 8:50.97 in the 800 free relay and 1:46.68 in the 200 free relay.

Texas

Five swimmers won multiple events at the Texas Senior

Championships, July 31-Aug. 4, in Southlake. GrapevineColleyville's Katie Roberts was the only triple-event champ, winning the 100 meter free (58.56), 100 fly (1:03.88) and 400 IM (5:09.58). Valerie Fenter of The Woodlands captured the 200 breast (2:41.94) and 200 IM (2:27.58). On the men's side, Houston Elite's Christopher Knaute was tops in the 800 (8:32.97) and 1500 (16:15.94) free; teammate Charlie Dillon was first in the 200 back (2:10.00) and 400 IM (4:36.29); and Clifton Robbins of Academy of Texas Aquatic Champions was victorious in the 200 breast (2:27.49) and 200 IM (2:09.69).

Washington

Cascade Swim Club of Shoreline placed first with 2,031 points to win over 35 other teams at the Pacific Northwest Swimming Association Championships in Federal Way, Aug. 1-4. Taking high-point honors for CSC were Tyler Hayden (11-12 boys), Kelly Woodruff (15-16 girls) and Patrick Woodruff (17-and-over boys). Other event winners from Cascade included Alex Chen, Meredith Thompson, Tony Dennis, Andrew Peterson, Kate McCary and the 1112 boys 400 meter medley relay team of Kyle Gehrke, Chen, Hayden and Owen Wurzbacher.

AGE GROUP SWIMMERS OF THE MONTH

Jeff Raymond

Age 12, Sunrise Swimming, Sunrise, Florida

In the beginning of 2002, things couldn't have been better for Jeff Raymond of Sunrise Swimming. In February, at a meet in Plantation, Fla., he broke the I I- 12 boys national age group (NAG) record in the 1500 meter free (17:34.55).

At the Speedo Southern Section Championships in Orlando in March, Jeff lowered the record to 17:29.98 and set Florida Gold Coast (FGC) standards in the 800 free (9:04.85), 400 free (4:26.36) and 200 back (2:20.99).