Sixteen teams scored at the Western Zone Age Group Championships, and our Central California Swimming All Star team finished 10th with a team size of only 31 while a full team is considered staffed at 64 (two relays per age group per gender).
Our TNT swimmers that scored were led by 10-year old Selma swimmer Jackson Huckabay, his 80 points resulting from three second place finishes that included the 200 free (2:20.03), 100 free (1:06.37) and 50 free (30.89) events, all of which were under his previous team records. Jackson was nearly four seconds under his pre-existing 200 free record that was set at Junior Olympics, and his new time stands as the fifth fastest time in the nation for all 10-year old boys. Although USA Swimming does not recognize top-10 standing for the 10-under division, being so late in the long course season, Jackson’s time will undoubtedly remain among the top-10 nationally for this long course season. His 100 free was over a second under his record that was set at Junior Olympics, and that time stands as the 12th fastest nationally. Finally, his 50 free slid under his Junior Olympic record setting performance, and marks the 40th fastest time nationally. Jackson’s remaining points came in the breaststroke events, where his 41.24 in the 50 was enough for a 4th place finish, and his 1:31.82 was enough for a 5th place finish in the championship heats.
Twelve year old Preston Niayesh was the next largest contributor from TNT with a total contribution of 46 points, and championship swims that included a seventh place finish in the 200 breaststroke (2:52.77). His time is two seconds under his own team record that he set at the Clovis meet one month earlier, and the time stands as the 77th fastest nationally for boys of age 12. Preston had championship finishes in the 100 breaststroke (7th place with a 1:20.26), as well as an eighth place finish in the 200 fly with a time of 2:40.91. His remaining points came from consolation finals that included the 50 breast (13th – 38.07), 100 fly (14th – 1:10.77) and 50 fly (15th – 32.22).
Ten year old Kylie Walker was our next highest point getter with 34.5 points that resulted in a championship swim, and bronze medal performance in the 50 fly event where her time of 33.56 improved her previous team record set at Junior Olympics by a half second. Her time currently stands as the 36th fastest nationally for girls of the same age. Kylie’s consolation swims came in the 50 free (9th – 32.37), 100 fly (11th – 1:20.11), and 50 back (13th – 38.85) events.
Our remaining finalist was ten-year old Danielle Albright who came away with two championship swims for Central California Swimming beginning with a 5th place finish in the 50 breaststroke (40.62), and then later with a 6th place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:29.93) events. Her remaining points came in the 200 free (13th – 2:36.32) and 200 IM (16th – 2:57.49).
Congratulations to those finalists, and our entire TNT delegation for competing on the Central California Swimming Age Group Zone Team. This recognition includes our remaining swimmers, represented here with their highest placed event: Priscilla Niayesh (18th in the 50 back – 40.27), Maya Herrera (24th in the 50 back – 41.04), and JD Koster (18th in the 100 fly – 1:15.39).