Sharks shine at Inland Empire Championships

MOSCOW — The Sandpoint Sharks took just five swimmers to the 2014 Inland Empire Swimming Championships recently at the University of Idaho Swim Center, but still left their mark with a slew of top 10 finishes.

Payton Bokowy, 13, continues to show she’s one of the fastest female swimmers her age in the region, winning the 100 and 200 free, and finishing second in the 50 free.

Emily Deitz, 14, finished third in the 100 back among a host of top 10 finishes, no easy task in brackets featuring more than 30 swimmers.

Bokowy and Deitz are now going to finish training for the upcoming Northwest age group Championship meet in Federal Way, Washington in a few weeks, and they both have qualified for the Western Zone Championship meet this Summer. 

“Bokowy is now the fastest female freestyler SWAC has ever had, going under 2:00 in the 200 free and under :54 in the 100 free,” said Sharks coach Mike Brosnahan, also praising the speed of Deitz. “These girls are taking swimming to one of the highest levels for young age group athletes.”

Kate Bokowy, 11, finished 11th in the 100 back, Sierra Speakman, 12, finished 11th in the 100 fly and Carolina Munce, 13, finished 33rd in the 50 free, a testament to how deep and fast many of the brackets are for the races.