Seven Fins’ swimmers qualified for the first round of the Scottish East District, rescheduled, Age Group Championships and produced one of, or perhaps the best, performance in recent years by competing in 14 events, and recording 14 short course PBs ranging from 1.66 seconds to 1 minute 33.52 seconds.
Round 1, started in Bathgate in November but had to be abandoned prior to the completion of session 1, due to a pool related situation. Round 1 covers the distance events comprising the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle, plus the 400m individual medley. Throughout the year there are very few opportunities where swimmers can compete in an 800m or 1500m event, so it is important that they make the most of their swim, when one comes along, and that was certainly the case last weekend at the Michael Woods, Centre, Glenrothes.
All bar one of the swims impacted the Fins’ all=time top 50 rankings.
Overall the swimmers added another two district titles, one silver and two bronze medals, with 12 of the 14 swims finishing in the top 10 placings.
The two championship titles were won by Millie Whytock, 11/12 years female, and Adam Selbie, 15 years male. Millie won the 400m freestyle, in her age group recording an amazing 59.97 second PB, while Adam won the 800m freestyle in his age group with a much more modest 8.25 seconds PB. The rankings have not yet been published following the championships, but Millie’s time of 5 minutes 14.64 seconds should rank Millie 2nd in Scotland for her age group, and Adam’s time of 9 minutes 2.55 seconds should rank him in 3rd place for his age group in Scotland.
Millie’s 300m freestyle swim was the only swim not to make the rankings but her time has brought her to within 4.70 seconds of the new entry time.
Adam’s time did not change his position in the rankings, remaining in 4th place in the 800m freestyle but his time brings him to within 1.61 seconds
The silver medal was won by Lilian Blair, 13 years female, in the 400m freestyle. Lilian led from the start until just over the 300m mark but was unable to maintain the pace for the gold, in the final 100m. Lilian enters the 400m freestyle rankings in 44th place, with the swimmer dropping out being Leeanne Sinclair who set her time at Carnegie in March 1995.
The bronze medals were won by Ethan Pate, 14 years male, and Eva Watson, 14 years female.
Ethan’s bronze came in the 1500m freestyle with the help of the largest PB of a Fins’ swimmer of 1 minute 33.52 seconds. Ethan also had a 5th place finish in the 800m freestyle and 6th in the 400m individual medley. In terms of Fins rankings, Ethan moves from 14th to 8th in the 800m freestyle; 34th to 23rd in the 1500m freestyle; and from 49th to 43 in the 400m individual medley.
Eva recorded a 23.13 second PB to ensure bronze in the 800m freestyle. Eva also finished in 11 place in the 400m freestyle. Eva’s time in the 800m freestyle moves her from 31st to 22nd in the 800m freestyle, and in the 400m freestyle she enters at 42nd, with the swimmer dropping out being Susan Whyte, who set her time at Carnegie in February 1996.
The remaining two swimmers were – Irys Blair, 15 years female, who was 6th in the 800m freestyle, 10th in the 400m individual medley, and 13th in the 400m freestyle; and Caleb Gray, 14 years male, who was 7th in all of his three swims, the 800m and 1500m freestyle, and 400m individual medley. Caleb recorded the 2nd largest Fins’ PB by reducing his 1500m time by 1 minute 1.91 seconds.
In the rankings Irys moves from 30th to 19th in the 400m individual medley, the joint largest number of places from the championships, along with Ethan’s 1500m freestyle; 28th to 27th in 800m freestyle; and from 46th to 39th in the 400m freestyle.
Caleb moved from 17th to 14th in the 800m freestyle; 33rd to 28th in the 1500m freestyle; and from 50th to 47th in the 400m individual medley.
A very impressive set of results.
Labore et Scientia.
Ken White
Club Press Officer