Archive: Sports

The Lansing Community Swimming Team (LCATs) recently divided into two groups for competition against swimmers from around the Northeast. Coach Bob Terry led one group of LCATs to Owego High School for a 2-day ‘qualifier’ meet sanctioned by the Niagara District, which includes over 75 swim clubs from the western half of New York State. A second group traveled with Coach Reed Dewey to the CeraVe Invitational meet on the campus of Rutgers University in New Jersey to compete against some of the best swimmers in the U.S. including Olympian Elizabeth Bisel.

The young LCATs turned in many outstanding performances at the Owego meet. This qualifying meet provided swimmers the opportunity to record times that enable them to enter faster meets later in the season. Several LCATs achieved these faster standards including Christina Bong, James Lovette, and Adelaide Smallidge in the 10 and under age group; Neal Ruparelia in the 11 and 12 age bracket; and Anna Conte, Gabriella Gomez, and Clement Towner among 13 and older swimmers.

Others registered multiple first place finishes. Both 11 year old Serina Moheed and 10 year old Edward Kiefer placed first in five events. “The kids set goals for times they want to achieve by the end of the season and the surprising thing was that nearly all of the kids at this mid-season meet met at least one of their personal goals,” according to Coach Terry.
   
At Rutgers University pool, the LCATs held their own with some of largest and fastest swim clubs in the Northeast U.S. Coach Dewey notes that “Our swimmers thrive on the competition and seem to do their best in big meets. They had very solid swims at the meet, especially for a long course (50-Meter, Olympic-sized pool) meet in the middle of the short course (25-Yard pool) season.” The 14-and-under women swam exceptionally well.

Erin McElfresh set a meet record in the 13-14 200 Fly with a time of 2:20.03, placing her among the fastest 13-14 women in the U.S. Natalie O’Brien earned her first Speedo Championship Meet cut time with a stellar swim in the 100 Freestyle and will attend that meet in mid-March. The LCAT’s 13-14 women’s’ relay of Isabelle Corgel (Backstroke), Natalie O’Brien (Breaststroke), Erin McElfresh (Butterfly), and Kayla Sherwyn (Freestyle) set a Niagara District record in the 13-14 400 Medley Relay.

The LCATs travel to meets in Rochester, Schenectady, Binghampton, Buffalo, and Austin, TX  during the upcoming weeks.

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