Three TNT swimmers training out of the Slema program competed at the 2014 Junior Nationals in Orlando, Florida over the March 18-22 week. This meet is one of the largest senior meets in the nation fielding many of the country’s top 18-under athletes. Sixteen year old Jilluan Hatch came home with two new team records. She swam 52.57 in the 100 yard freestyle, sliding under her preexisting team record of 52.68 set last year at the Clovis meet. At the same Clovis meet last year, Jillian also swam 1:53.68 in the 200 freestyle, and while in Orlando this spring, she swam 1:53.35 to reset that record. She improved three of the four events she competed in, including the 100 free, 200 free and 50 free events. She also had the team’s highest finish of 107th in the 50 freestyle.
Emily Goodbar maintained a 60% improvement rate, improving three of her five events that included the 50 breaststroke, 50 butterfly and 50 backstroke events. Her highest finish was the in the 200 butterfly event where her time of 2:07.32 was enough for a 112th place finish in the event. Sierra Jett maintained a 50% improvement rate, improving both the 50 fly and 50 backstroke events. Her highest finish was 119th in the 50 fly, resulting from a time of 26.22. Mia Newkirk a former Hanford resident who trained TNT, now of California Capital, finished her meet with a bang, moving from 143rd to 69th in the 50 backstroke with her time of 26.96.