Two TNT swimmers, both residents of the Porterville area, competed at the short course Far Western Championships hosted by Pacific Swimming, and held this year in Morgan Hill over the first weekend of April, and both swimmers earned second swims in one of two final heats for the 11-12 age division, and both competing at their first short course Far Western Championships.
The Far Western Championships is one of the best known, and longest standing, age group championship swim meets in the nation. The short course version of the meet attracts athletes from across the western United States, and at times from across the nation. The long course version of the meet has played host to age group swimmers who went on to be come Olympic champions, such as Janet Evans and Pablo Morales, and has attracted swim teams from around the world. Earning a final swim at a swim meet with such caliber of athletes participating is truly an accomplishment.
Not only did Porterville’s Regan Hildreth earn second swims, but she also competed in the championship final heat of the 50 yard breaststroke after posting a lifetime best of 32.94 in the preliminary heats, and touching 7th there. Her time places her among the top-10 fastest times posted for the team, lists her as the third fastest in the event for the history of the team, and only 0.76 seconds within the team record. Regan had two additional swims in the consolation final heat, and they included the 100 IM (1:06.59), and 100 breaststroke (1:12.36).
Blake Rogers has made a name for himself within the team, and within a relatively short period of time. Along with Regan, he too has made his first appearance at Far Westerns, earning second swims in two of his three events entered. Blake’s highest finish was 9th in the 11-12 50 yard breaststroke where his time of 32.10 is the sixth fastest time posted on the team, and moves him to being the third fastest in the event for the history of the team. Blake also touched 13th in the 100 breaststroke, moving up two places from his seeding from the preliminary heats where he posted his lifetime best of 1:11.26.