Bokowy represents Sandpoint at Junior Nationals in Iowa

SANDPOINT — Senior Payton Bokowy, who dominated the state of Idaho for the past four years in the 50 and 100 free, represented Sandpoint with pride last weekend at the 2017 Speedo Winter Junior Championships in Iowa City, Iowa.

Bokowy set a PR of 57.75 in the 100 back, and posted a top finish of 84th in the 100 free, competing against fields numbering in the 130s and containing the top youth swimmers in the country among the more than 1,100 in attendance.

Sandpoint head coach Mike Brosnahan has been in the game a long time, and he admitted it was fun to compete in the fastest swim meet in the country for kids 18 years-old and under.

“I have never coached at a meet of this caliber and the swims were amazing to watch,” claimed Brosnahan. “Payton swam well. She was very focused and moved up in all of her races within her heat.”

Brosnahan noticed plenty of swimmers who missed their best times by considerable margins under the pressure of such a competitive atmosphere.

Bokowy, fresh off winning another pair of state titles in the 50 and 100 meters for Sandpoint this fall, was right at her best ever times in both sprints, clocking 24.03 and 51.79, respectively.

“She always races well under pressure. Payton is always fun to watch at big meets because she is calm and rises to the occasion and shows how good a competitor she is,” said Brosnahan. “If the race is close she always seems to get to the wall first. It was quite the experience for me to be around and watch up close some of the fastest swimmers in the country right at poolside.”

The Junior Nationals took great care of the swimmers, each of whom had to qualify to earn an invite, and provided top notch hospitality and lots of swag to the athletes.

Bokowy will swim next fall on a full ride scholarship at Pac 12 Washington State University.