MacRae leads globetrotting Stingray Swimmers

(SSC): Stingray swimmers wrapped up the 2013-2014 Swim Season with members competing in swim meets around the globe: from Bridgetown, Barbados (Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships) to Aberdeen, Scotland (Scottish National Age Group Championships); to Sarasota, Florida (Shark Open) and St Petersburg, Florida (SPA Invitational). Catriona MacRae and Katie Klein represented the Cayman Islands at the CISC Open Water Swimming Championship in both the 5k and 10k events in Barbados. MacRae finished 4th overall in the 5k while Klein came close behind in 6th place.

Catriona shone brightest though in the 10k event where she finished 2nd overall and captured the gold medal for the 14-17 age group. The two also competed in the pool, where they were joined by Stingray Swim Club (SSC) Teammates Matthew and Chris Courtis who swim for Barbados. The Courtis brothers both swam incredibly well, with Matthew securing five podium finishes … one of which was Gold in 200 Fly; and Chris coming in just behind his brother with four podium finishes.

SCOTLAND: Alex Dakers competed in his first Scottish National Age Group Championship with a 100% PB strike rate at the pool in Aberdeen. Dakers swam the 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly and raced especially well in the 200 breaststroke, chopping off 7 seconds for a time of 2:56.57. Dakers came 19th overall in the event.

SARASOTA, FL: Nine swimmers competed in the 2014 Shark Open in Sarasota – a heats and finals format swim meet. “Little” John Bodden led Stingray with massive PB's in every event, most notably clocking a 10 second PB in the 100 butterfly at 1:04.33. John narrowly missed qualifying for Southern Zones by .04 in the event. Ali Jackson also swam well, finishing first overall in the 50 backstroke and 2nd in the 50 breaststroke while Sam Bailey, Ella Plunkett, Sarah Jackson and Cole Morgan also all hit finals.

ST PETERSBURG, FL: Led by standout swims from Stingray’s Silver Group, the pack of 17 swimmers raced to loads of lifetime bests, top 5 finishes and records. Out the gates quickly were Sophie Hayman, Corey Westerborg, Danielle Seales and John Fleming who all recorded giant PB's in the 200 IM or Open 50 events. Seales dropped over 3 seconds in her 50 freestyle to clock a 36.5 while John Fleming bested his short course PB by over 5 seconds.

Westerborg cleaned up on his own times all weekend, with particularly sharp swims in the 50 butterfly where he dropped 2 seconds, clocking in at 36.9 and in the 100 freestyle where he chopped off over 6 seconds, also beating his best short course time in a time of 1:12.4. The 100 free being a new Stingray, National and CIASA record.

The Hayman sisters dominated many of their races with both Katie and Sophie looking especially strong in the freestyle events. And a big congratulations goes out to Krishna Adapa and Danielle Seales who both finished the meet with 100% personal bests over the weekend.
For more information on or to volunteer at the Stingray Swim Club visit www.caymanswiming.com