Eleven TNT swimmers competed alongside college club programs at the 2018 Speedo Grand Challenge over the last weekend of May in Irvine, and four earned a second swim in their respective events. Three of our swimmers earned that second swim in the 12-under division, the highest place going to Visalia’s Ella Bettencourt who made a podium performance in the 50 meter breaststroke, posting a lifetime best of 36.95 in the event, and finishing third. Our next highest finishers both touched 6th in their 12-under events, and they included Ava Olson who swam a lifetime best of 1:24.47 in the preliminary event, then touched 6th in finals with a time of 1:29.77. Alexa Wong also posted a lifetime best, and 6th place finish, in the 12-under 100 freestyle after swimming 1:06.93 in prelims and 1:07.03 in finals. We had one swimmer who competed in the senior division of the meet, and who earned a second swim. Preston Niayesh posted a time of 1:07.86 in the consolation final to touch 20th in the event.
Danielle Albright’s highest finish was 46th in the 100 breast (1:18.29), Drew Black touched 8th in the 100 fly (1:12.08), Layla Flores finished 49th in the 200 back (2:29.42), Mackenzie Garza finished 67th in the 50 free (28.57), JD Koster was 30th in the 200 fly (2:12.99), Alex Roberts finished 41st in the 100 back (1:08.72), and Bryan Wong touched 49th in the 100 breast (1:11.84).
