They drive in the fast lane.

A trio of North Whidbey Aquatic Club members currently hold the fastest time in at least one short course event in their age group in the Pacific Northwest Swimming rankings.

PNS is the regional chapter of USA Swimming and includes all club swimmers in Western Washington.

The Blue Heron occupying the tops spots are Haley Borja (9-year-old girls division), Nicholas Shashaty (8-and-under boys) and Lindsay Brown (11-year-old girls).

Coach Dick Taylor said it is the first time in his two-year reign of the program that three local athletes are No. 1 at the same time.

Being among the region’s best is nothing new to Borja. Before turning 9 in July, she ranked first in six PNS long course events for girls 8-and-under. One of her times, 1:20.74 in the 100-meter freestyle, was the 29th best in the United States.

She also holds 14 NWAC girls 8-and-under records.

Now, Borja sits atop the PNS rankings in three short course events among 368 9-year-old girls: 100-yard freestyle (1:05.21), 200-yard freestyle (2:27.71) and 50-yard backstroke (35.24). Her 100 time is more than three seconds faster than the second-best and ranked 31st nationally.

The Broad View Elementary fourth-grader is also second in two events: 50-yard freestyle (29.93 — .04 out of first) and 500-yard freestyle (6:42.27).

In addition, she is among the top 11 in five other swims: 50-yard butterfly, eighth (36.48); 200-yard individual medley, eighth (2:59.73); 100-yard individual medley, ninth (1:22.18); 100-yard butterfly, 10th (1:25.06); and 100-yard backstroke, 11th (1:22.71).

Borja began swimming at 3 while living in Italy and joined NWAC when she was 6.

She said her event-leading times could possibly be better but “it is hard to race fast when you are ahead and have no one to chase.”

“Gifted with a great amount of natural talent, she also works very, very hard in practice,” Taylor said. “Indeed, she posts best times in practice with some frequency.”

Shashaty credits cross-training for his success. Last summer he was a member of one of the North Whidbey Little League all-star teams and said working on his baseball swing helps with his swimming stroke.

He added that recording the top PNS times is “awesome.”

Shashaty, a third-grader at Broad View Elementary, swam for three years in Colorado before moving to Oak Harbor three years ago.

He is ranked first out of 347 boys 8-and-under in the 50-yard freestyle (34.9) and 100-yard individual medley (1:28.05) and is second in the 100-yard freestyle (1:22).

Shashaty also shows up on the top-time list in four other events: 100-yard breaststroke, seventh (1:57.28); 50-yard butterfly, 10th (45.84); 50-yard breaststroke, 13th (51.66); and 50-yard backstroke, 16th (46.33).

“Nick is just now beginning to come into his own,” Taylor said, noting Shashaty is learning how to practice efficiently and use proper technique.

“He has made great strides in all of these areas just these past few months,” Taylor added. “His greatest asset is his explosive physical strength. He is as strong as a mountain, and he loves to race. Watch for much faster times from Nick as he gets older.”

Brown, who has been swimming for four years, leads all of PNS among the 441 11-year-old girls in the 1,650-yard freestyle (20:23.27) and is second in the 400-yard individual medley (5:08.8).

“I work really hard at it, so it feels really good,” Brown said in regard to her top ranking.

The petite North Whidbey Middle School sixth-grader excels in the longer races although she is not as tall as many of her competitors.

“Being small, other people don’t think I am going to go that fast,” she said.

Brown ranks in the top five in three other events: 200-yard breaststroke, fourth (2:43.28); 200-yard butterfly, fifth (2:35.4); and 200-yard individual medley, fifth (2:26.92).

She is also 20th in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:20.36).

“Lindsay come to us courtesy of a swimming family, and it shows,” Taylor said. “She learns technique very quickly, and she can draw upon a natural stamina that few other swimmers possess. When all other swimmers slow down, Lindsay seems to speed up, especially in the back half of all her races.”

Brown lacks Shashaty’s raw power, according to Taylor, but makes up for it by out-thinking and out-lasting opponents.

“Her polished, efficient strokes serve her well,” Taylor said. “It’s not uncommon for Lindsay to start off a race in dead last, and then pass every single swimmer in the pool during the race to win, perhaps even by a wide margin. It’s inspiring to watch.”