Sandpoint Sharks make waves at Moses Lake
The cool pool water was a great relief to the Sandpoint Sharks swim team as they raced in temperatures north of 100 degrees at the Sizzlin' Summer Splash hosted by Manta Ray Aquatics in Moses Lake, Wash., July 7-9.
The athletes didn’t get to enjoy the cool waters for very long; the Sharks had to get to work. The Sizzlin’ Summer Splash was the last meet where Sandpoint swimmers could qualify for the Inland Empire Long Course Championships.
“The team swam exactly how I wanted them to swim,” head coach Emily Renzini said. “Last week I pushed them hard in practice and they performed beyond my expectations.”
McCoy Jensen started off the weekend with a new personal record in the 400-meter freestyle with a time of 5:03.45. Jensen improved his time by over 18 seconds since his last outing.
Renzini said that McCoy proved that his speed is there despite being tired from the team’s workouts. At this point in the season, it is common practice that athletes are pushed to their limits and then taper the following weeks in order to peak in the postseason, Renzini said.
Ryleigh Bamer followed up Jensen’s performance with another personal record. Bamer has been on a tear this season; she dropped five seconds off her previous best 200-meter butterfly to place third overall with a time of 2:58.28.
Joshua Jackson secured his spot at the 2023 Western Zone Open Water Championship meet held in Coeur d’Alene this August. Jackson qualified in two events, the 400-meter freestyle with a time of 6:11.70 and the 200-meter freestyle with a time of 2:55.63.
Andrew Ford and Mia Driggs each swam top five finishes in their respective breaststroke events. Ford swam a 44.46 in the 50-meter and a 1:32.79 in the 100-meter. Driggs finished the 200-meter breaststroke with a final time of 1:12.19
“While we may not have dropped time in every event, these kids are swimming strong,” Renzini said. “We just started tapering for champs. Once we are rested, good things will happen against that clock. The kids are looking forward to easier practices this week and I’m looking forward to faster swims later this month.”
A record number 19 swimmers from the Sandpoint Sharks qualified to swim at the 2023 IES Long Course Championship held July 21-23 in Pasco, Wash.
The following Sandpoint Sharks placed in the top 5 finishers at the Sizzlin’ Summer Splash. Many events had over 50 competitors and teams came from all over the Pacific Northwest, including but not limited to Washington and Oregon, as well as Canada:
Female, 15 and over – Ryleigh Bamer, 3rd, 400 IM, 6:16.12; 3rd, 200 Fly, 2:58.28; Ava de Leeuw, 2nd, 400 IM, 6:09.20; Mia Driggs, 5th, 200 Breast, 3:14.46. Male, 15 and over – Caleb Norling, 3rd, 200 Free, 2:07.34; 4th, 50 Free, 26.89; 4th, 57.51; 5th, 100 Back, 1:10.60; 5th, 100 Fly, 1:03.93. Male, 13-14 – Lou Foust, 3rd, 400 IM, 6:28.81. Female, 11-12 – Myelle Jensen, 1st, 50 Back, 36.84; 2nd, 200 IM, 2:54.27; 3rd, 400 Free, 5:31.35; 4th, 50 Free, 33.26. Male, 11-12 – Andrew Ford, 4th, 100 Breast, 1:32.79; 5th, 50 Breast, 44.46.
