ROCKWALL — Three Rockwall Aquatic Center of Excellence (RACE) swimmers competed at the Texas Age Group Swimming (TAGS) Championship meet in Austin on July 25-29.

During the summer RACE swimmers practice and compete in a 50-meter long course pool, like in the Olympics.

In order to make it to a TAGS swimmers 14 years and younger must meet qualifying times according to their age group. The meet acts as a state championship for those age groups.

David Johnston (10) qualified in eight events, Margot Little (10) qualified in three events, and Emily Manly (13) qualified for five events.

The meet was held at the University of Texas in Austin in the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center. Each day swimmers would swim a prelim meet in the morning. For 11-14-year-old swimmers, the top 16 finishers from prelims make it back to finals, which are swum every night. For 10 and under swimmers, the top eight make it back to finals.

Johnston made it back in all eight of his events, and Manly made it back in two events.

Each finals swim earns points for the swimmer and their respective team. Overall RACE came in 28th place out of 54 teams.

The next meet for RACE swimmers will be in the fall as they start short course season.



RESULTS

David Johnston (10)

In finals:

200 meter IM- 5th place- 2:43.93

50 meter Back- 5th place- 37.00

100 meter Free- 3rd place- 1:07.59

200 meter IM- 5th place- 2:43.93

200 meter Free- 2nd place- 2:22.06

100 meter Fly- 3rd place- 1:15.82

400 meter Free- 1st place- 4:53.93

100 meter Back- 6th place- 1:18.13

Margot Little (10)

In prelims:

200 meter Free- 11th place- 2:37.10

100 meter Fly- 11th place- 1:23.71

400 meter Free- 5:33.27

Emily Manly (13)

In prelims:

200 meter IM- 2:32.52

200 meter Back- 2:34.52

100 meter Back - 1:13.27

In finals:

400 meter IM- 10th place- 5:12.77

200 meter Breast- 11th place- 2:51.39

In time trials:

200 meter Fly- 2:36.35



Sectionals

Nine RACE swimmers competed at the Sectionals Long Course Championship meet in Shenandoah on July 31- Aug. 4.

Sectionals are the state championship meet for any swimmer who qualifies.

Usually, swimmers 15 and older go to Sectionals, but more and more younger swimmers are attending.

The meet was held in the Conroe ISD Natatorium where the top 32 swimmers make it back to swim in finals every night.

Jared Butler (16) and Raena Eldridge (15) qualified for seven events each, Bentley Gilbert (16) qualified for two, Jeremiah Kim (15) qualified for three, Tobias Kim (17) qualified for five, William Rapp (15) qualified for five, and Claire Walters (17) qualified for five.

RACE newcomers, Miranda Fannin (15) qualified for two events and Haylie Harbin (15) qualified for six events.

Out of the 71 teams represented there were swimmers from collegiate levels and some who swam at the Olympic Trials competing as well.

Overall, RACE had a successful weekend at the meet and finished off their season strong.



Results

Jared Butler (16)

In finals:

100 meter Free- 24th place- 54.35

200 meter Back- 17th place- 2:11.04

200 meter Free- 35th place- 1:58.48

400 meter IM- 13th place- 4:40.41

400 meter Free- 34th place- 4:12.67

200 meter IM- 12th place- 2:10.30

In prelims:

100 meter Fly- 1:00.54

Raena Eldridge (15)

In finals:

100 meter Free- 15th place- 59.81

200 meter Back- 11th place- 2:22.92

100 meter Fly- 12th place- 1:04.22

50 meter Free- 6th place- 27.36

In prelims:

200 meter Free - 2:12.23

100 meter Back- 27th place- 1:08.17

200 meter IM- 11th place- 2:26.58

Miranda Fannin (15)

In finals:

100 meter Breast- 32nd place- 1:19.80

In prelims:

200 meter Breast - 2:53.51

Bentley Gilbert (16)

In finals:

50 meter Free- 31st place- 25.39

In prelims:

100 meter Free - 56.02

Haylie Harbin (15)

In finals:

800 meter Free- 24th place- 9:28.73

400 meter IM- 5:19.02

400 meter Free - 4:37.77

1500 meter Free- 11th place- 18:05.29

In prelims:

200 meter Back - 2:35.58

200 meter Free - 2:15.41

In time trials:

200 meter IM- 2:35.06

Jeremiah Kim (15)

In prelims:

200 meter Breast - 2:40.52

200 meter Fly - 2:24.31

100 meter Breast - 1:12.07

Tobias Kim (17)

In prelims:

200 meter Breast - 2:44.56

200 meter Back - 2:27.46

100 meter Back - 1:07.09

100 meter Breast - 1:17.01

200 meter IM - 2:28.12

William Rapp (15)

In prelims:

100 meter Free - 55.36

200 meter Back - 2:22.64

200 meter Free - 2:05.04

400 meter Free - 4:26.47

50 meter Free - 26.22

Claire Walters (17)

In finals:

100 meter Free- 32nd place- 1:01.11

100 meter Fly- 19th place- 1:04.78

50 meter Free- 25th place- 27.71

In prelims:

200 meter Fly - 2:31.14

200 meter Free - 2:13.03