Sandpoint Sharks kick off short course season in Spokane

SPOKANE — The Sandpoint Sharks swim team got back to racing recently, competing at the SWAT Fall Challenge held Oct. 7 in Spokane at Whitworth University. Allyson and Claire Ballard led the way with multiple top 5 finishes for the Sharks.

“We haven’t raced in a pool since the end of July,” head coach Emily Renzini said. “Many swimmers are coming off a strong long course and open water season, but racing in the lake is a lot different than racing in the pool. This is a great meet for my team to get back into the swing of things.”

Typically, when compared to a long course that is 50 meters in length, a short course, which is only 25 meters, is a lot more critical when it comes to starts and turns. Because of this, many Sharks took an opportunity to try out new events in their first short course meet of the year.

“Huge shout out to Savannah Ferris who swam the 400 IM for the first time,” Renzini said. “Savannah (Ferris), Bodi Demmons, Andrew Ford, Lou Foust and Alivia Storms also all swam the 500-freestyle on Sunday. Two big races for the first weekend of the season.”

Ten-year-old Allyson Ballard proved her hard work at practice is well worth the effort. She took first in the 50-yard freestyle (30.74), second-place in the 100-yard butterfly (1:28.84) and 50-yard backstroke (37.28) and third-place in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:36.03).

Not to be out done by her little sister, twelve-year-old Claire Ballard posted some strong swims, including new personal best 100-yard breaststroke (1:32.74), good enough for a fourth place finish, and a new personal best 100-yard freestyle (1:12.32) which came with a ninth place finish. Claire’s breaststroke was a nine-second improvement, her freestyle a seven-second improvement.

Lou Foust was the only other Shark to post a top five finish, finishing fifth in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 59.46.

“All in all a great weekend for the Sharks,” Renzini said. “We had a few first-time racers, a few veterans trying new events and many seconds left behind in the Whitworth pool.”

The Sandpoint Sharks swim team heads to Moscow on Sunday, Oct. 29, to race against the Vandals Aquatic Club in the 2023 IE VAN Trick or Treat Open.

Info: https://www.facebook.com/SandpointSharksSwim or contact Coach Emily Renzini at ERenzini@ymcainw.org.