Nine Fins’ younger swimmers were back at the Michael Woods Centre last Saturday and Sunday for the Carnegie Spring Meet. The meet, which was restricted to 8 to 14 year olds, attracted a large entry and in addition to six of the Fife clubs competing there were entries from clubs from Lothians, Lanarkshire, Lochaber and Kinross. Fins had another successful competition with the swimmers competing in a total of 57 swims, recording a total of 40 PBs. The improvement rate of 70% was down on previous meets, not unsurprisingly, but still very acceptable. The swimmers achieved 21 medals in total, 10 gold, 5 silver, and 6 bronze, and had a further 23 top 10 placings.
Fins’ top swimmer was Ethan Pate, 10/11 boys, who entered eight events, winning all of them. Ethan only recorded two PBs which included a 22.57 second improvement in his 100m individual medley, His other wins were 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle; 200m breaststroke; 200m backstroke; and 200m individual medley. What is more exceptional is that Ethan was swimming in a two year age category and as a 10 year old was on the younger side. With the exception of the 50m and 100m freestyle which he won by 1.17 and 1.27 seconds respectively Ethan’s winning margins were very comfortable.
Adam Selbie, 12 years boys, had a total of 11 swims, winning the 100m breaststroke and 100m butterfly. He also won four silver medals in the 50m and 200m butterfly; 200m and 400m freestyle; two bronze medals in both the 100m freestyle and backstroke, plus two 5th and one 6th placing. Steven Pate, 14 boys, won the remaining silver medal in the 200m breaststroke, and also two bronze medals in the 50m and 100m breaststroke. Steven also had a 4th, 5th, 8th, and two 9th placings.
Caleb Gray, 10/11 boys, won a bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke and gained four 4th a 5th and an 8th placing.
The final bronze medal was won by Irys Blair, 12 years girls, in the 200m butterfly. She also gained two 5th, two 6th and a 10th placing.
Eight of the PBs were in double figures and the most improved Fins’ swimmer was Medeea-Miriam Gorea, 12 years girls, who reduced her 100m freestyle by 28.41 seconds, her 100m individual medley by 28.22 seconds, and her 100m backstroke by 9.19 seconds. Medeea recorded her previous PB in the 100m backstroke just two weeks ago at the Fife League.Club Info. The remaining results were as follows: Charlotte Wardlaw, 13 girls, 4th – 100m breaststroke; 11th – 100m individual medley; 14th – 50m backstroke; 15th – 100m freestyle Campbell Rae, 13 boys, 5th – 100m breaststroke; 10th – 100m freestyle
Medeea-Miriam Gorea, 12 girls, 11th – 100m backstroke; 14th – 50m breaststroke; 16 th – 50m backstroke; 18th – 100m butterfly; 21st – 100m freestyle Eva Watson, 10/11 girls, 12th – 50m breaststroke: 21st – 50m freestyle; 22nd – 50m butterfly. Eva is 10 years old and if she had been swimming in a single age group the 10 years results would have been – 5th – 50m breaststroke; 7th in both the freestyle and butterfly.
In addition to those mentioned above the PBs that were in double figures were achieved by: Charlotte – who reduced her 100m individual medley by 18.42 seconds Adam – who reduced his 100m individual medley by 15.44 seconds Steven – who reduced his 100m freestyle by 13.88 seconds Caleb – who reduced his 50m breaststroke by 13.72 seconds Campbell who reduced his 100m freestyle by 1.43 seconds.
Although it was younger swimmers competing there were two movements and two entries to the all-time club rankings. Steven moved from 31st to 29th in the 50m breaststroke and from 32nd to 30 in the 200m breaststroke. Steven also entered the 100m individual medley ranking in 49th place, which means that David McLaren drops out. David achieved his ranking time at Larkhall in November 1994. The time required to enter the ranking is now 1 minute 13.78 seconds.
At 12 year old, Adam also enters the rankings for the 200m butterfly in 42nd place, which means that Jamie Ferguson, who recorded his time at Glenrothes in June 2007, now drops out and the time to enter the ranking is now 3 minutes 34.19 seconds.