YOUTH SPORTS: Jensen, deLeeuw lead Sandpoint Sharks at IES Short Course Championships

MOSCOW — 13 members of the Sandpoint Sharks Swim Club competed amongst the fastest swimmers that Idaho, Washington, and Oregon had to offer at 2024 IES Short Course Championships held March 1-3 at the University of Idaho Swim Center.

“This is a long, three-day meet,” head coach Emily Renzini said. “We are at the pool from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Racing during these long days is physically draining and mentally exhausting as well.”

The Sharks, however, were up for the challenge.

Ava deLeeuw (17 years old) competed in all three of the meet’s distance events. She placed eighth out of 32 swimmers in the 500 free (5:25.54), eighth out of 17 in the 400 IM (4:56.67) and fifth out of nine in the 1650 freestyle (18:51.33).

“Ava really swam hard this weekend,” Renzini said. “She dropped over 16 seconds in her 400-yard IM and placed fifth in the 1650 with almost a minute and a half time drop. She then went on to swim two finals for the 200 freestyle and the 200 backstroke. She had a great weekend and qualified for senior zones.”

Several other swimmers from Sandpoint were able to qualify and place in the finals. Reaching the finals is a large accomplishment in itself as swimmers need to place in the top eight out in the preliminary rounds, which often have 35 or more competitors, in order to advance.

Myelle Jensen (12) made the finals in all five of the events that she competed in, placing amongst the top three in all of them. She finished second in the 200 IM (2:29.40), first in the 50 backstroke (30.52), first in the 100 backstroke (1:05.58), third in the 100 fly (1:09.08) and third in the 500 freestyle (6:00.53).

McCoy Jensen (15) was another Shark who qualified for senior zones after finishing seventh in the 50 breaststroke final (31.16). Lou Foust (14) finished eighth in the 200 freestyle final (2.01.83) and seventh in the 200 backstroke final (2:19.91). Ryleigh Bamer (16) dropped over nine seconds from the preliminary to finals in the 200 fly (2:27.08), finishing sixth overall.

Also seeing new personal bests were Andrew Ford (13), who placed seventh in the 50 breaststroke final (33.46); Josh Jackson (12), who dropped roughly 22 seconds off his time in the 200 freestyle preliminary (2:33.22); and Max Brown (14), who beat his previous best by eight seconds in the 200 freestyle preliminary (2:11.02).

“I am always proud of my athletes, but this meet proved how tough and hard working these kids are,” Renzini said.

The Sandpoint Sharks will head to Spokane next weekend for the final short course meet of the season.

If you are interested in learning more about the Sandpoint Sharks, or you’re interested in trying out for the team — please contact Coach Emily Renzini at headcoach@sandpointsharks.com.