Stingray Flies High at CIASA National Championship
It was a weekend of surprises for Stingray at the CIASA National Championship from start to finish. The swimmers surprised their coach, they surprised the spectators and they even surprised themselves from time to time.
What started out as a good meet snowballed into an incredible meet that was capped off by the most unlikely of endings as swimmers young and old continually stepped up and surpassed their expecations in both prelims and finals.
There were so many highlights, but of all the standout performances, here are a few that topped the list.
DAY 1
On the first day of competition, Alison Jackson and Corey Westerborg broke back to back records in the 50m back. Both were CIASA and National records.
Miquela Montana, Iain MacRae, Sarah Jackson, Alex Dakers and Simon Butler made a clean sweep of the 200 breaststroke events, each capturing gold for Stingray. Miquela not only won gold but also broke her first national record in the event.
Iain McCallum dropping 1:30 seconds in the 1500 to take gold, bringing him within striking distance of his first Island Games qualifying time. Catriona MacRae followed suit by dropping over 20 seconds in the 800 and placing first.
DAY 2
Stefanie Boothe broke her sister’s National and CIASA records in the 50 Butterfly, capturing gold and qualifying for CARIFTA.
Jake Bailey and Monina Thompson capture their first gold medals, also in the 50 Butterfly.
Corey Westerborg breaks his second CIASA record in as many days in the 100 backstroke, bringing home gold again.
DAY 3
Raya Embury-Brown reaches her first ever B final in the 50 breaststroke, seeded 6th. Raya ended up dropping more time in the evening and winning the B final!
Samantha Bailey and Ella Plunkett nab CARIFTA times in the 200 IM, followed shortly by Simon Butler who also swam to his first qualifying time in the same event.
Iain Macrae, Alison Jackson and Sarah Jackson break National Records in the 50 Breaststroke.
Lauren Williams wins gold in the 100 freestyle, chopping off nearly 4 seconds in the process.
DAY 4
Jonathan Key lights up the pool in a time of 4:26 in the 400 Freestyle, dropping over 15 seconds and snagging silver.
Ria Plunkett charged to her first CARIFTA qualifying time in the prelims of the 50 Freestyle.
Monina Thompson shocks everybody, dropping over 4 seconds in the 50 butterfly to become the final qualifier for the 2014 CARIFTA team at CIASA Nationals.
Stingray swimmers broke a total of 24 records over the course of the weekend.
Stefanie Boothe
50 Butterfly - CIASA/National/Stingray
Alison Jackson
50 Backstroke – CIASA/National/Stingray
50 Breaststroke - National
Sarah Jackson
50 Breaststroke – CIASA/National/Stingray
100 Breaststroke - National
Iain MacRae
50 Breaststroke – National
100 Breaststroke - National
Miquela Montana
200 Breaststroke – National
Corey Westerborg
50 Backstroke – CIASA/National/Stingray
100 Backstroke – CIASA/National/Stingray
50 Breaststroke – National
100 Freestyle – Stingray
50 Freestyle – Stingray
100 Breaststroke – National
If I may go editorial for a moment…
This meet was unlike anything I’ve experienced on the island, and frankly unlike anything I’ve experienced in swimming for a long, long time. It invigorated me to see the swimmers not only swimming so fast, but to be so focused. They were enjoying themselves immensely and in turn, I enjoyed it also as much or more.
I told the kids in the silver group yesterday that if you had told me back in September that a swimmer from our Silver Group was going to qualify for CARIFTA, with the standards raised, I would have thought that to be quite a stretch. We all watched it happen though… and it still gives me goose bumps thinking about it. Sophie Hayman told me yesterday that she had a dream about Monina swimming and it made her cry with happiness. That is the affect being part of a team can have on your child.
I believe this weekend everybody felt they were a part of something special. I saw the kids coming together for each other in a way that you rarely get to witness. I am so proud of what they have accomplished in and out of the pool!
And finally, I want to give a huge thank you to Coach Joanna for helping out all weekend long. She is becoming a great new member of the Stingray family and is a huge help to me on deck, especially at the meets.
Thanks again to everbody! Off to JAM ROCK!!
