Sports
League Prelims + Mira Costa = Fast Times
Seniors Erik Yan and Maura Chen break school record and swim personal best, respectively. Yesterday's finals results will appear on Manhattan Beach Patch.
The Mira Costa swim team set up for a long day of preliminary heats on Wednesday at the Redondo Union High School pool for the first leg of the Bay League finals.
With 42 events on the schedule, the meet kicked off at 1 p.m. and finished about 6 hours later.
All eyes were on the first place varsity girls team, undefeated through the season and currently on pace to finish on top at the Bay League finals.
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The varsity girls had a first place finisher in every individual event except the 100 Fly, 100 Breast and 500 Free.
The girls swept the 400 Free (3:48.56) and 200 Free (1:46.37) relays, and placed second in the Medley relay (1:59.64).
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Senior Maura Chen placed fourth in the 500 Free (5:49.39), knocking 13 seconds from her previous personal best.
“ I think I can take a few more seconds off at finals on Friday,” said Chen. “I feel there is more that I can do and am very excited to swim.”
For the varsity boys the story is much different. The team is entering prelims and finals facing an uphill battle with only one win for the season under their belts.
All swimmers qualified in their preliminary events to swim on Friday, including the three relay teams.
“For the boys, it seems to be a battle for first and second between PV and Penninsula,” Bartlett said. “Our boys are swimming fast and we are hoping for the third place finish in league.”
Senior Erik Yan set a new school record (0:52.17) in the 100 Fly, breaking the previous school record that had stood for only a year, also set by Yan.
What does Yan think about setting a new school record and the possibility of breaking the league record in the 100 Fly?
“I feel like I will beat the time again at finals," he said. "I really have no idea what the league record even is, so we will see.”
When asked about his preparations for finals, Yan said, “ I am going to take an ice bath and do some carb loading at the pasta party my parents are hosting for the team.”
On Wednesday, coach Batlett was concerned about the heat and sun fatiguing his swimmers before their heats. He pleaded with his swimmers to seek shade and stay hydrated.
As the forecast for Friday shows the weather changing, he is now preparing his swimmers to stay warm and focused on what lies ahead. In Bartletts’s words, “There is work to be done."
Bay League finals took place yesterday and Manhattan Beach Patch will publish coverage this weekend.
