Blue Heron shine at Age Group Championships / NWAC

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, December 13, 2016

North Whidbey Aquatic Club athletes put together a strong performance against the region’s best at the Pacific Northwest Swimming Age Group Championships Dec. 9-11 in Federal Way.

Six Blue Heron competed and posted a combined 32 personal bests in 35 swims.

Lindsey Brown finished in the top eight in two events, including taking fourth in the 11/12 1,650-yard freestyle in 20:23.27, the best PNS time this year for an 11-year-old girl. She also took eighth in the 400 individual medley (5:08.8).

Kiersten Tyson, 10, earned the best finish, third in the 500 freestyle (6:27.07), and piled up the most points, 67, by a Blue Heron.

Haley Borja moved to the top of the PNS rankings in three events for a 9-year-old girl: 100 freestyle (1:05.21), 200 free (2:27.71) and 50 backstroke (35.24). Her best finish was fourth in the 9/10 girls 100 free.

Lola Chargualaf, 10, put herself on the NWAC top-eight list with two strong swims (100 free, 1:05.97; 100 back, 1:16.93).

Jasmine Borja, 12, was named NWAC Most Improved Swimmer of the Meet by coach Dick Taylor by dropping time in her two events (400 IM, 5:24.64; 200 breaststroke, 2:52.11). Those times rank among NWAC’s all-time top 16.

Ashleigh Merrill, 13, PR’ed in all six of her events and took sixth in the 13/14 1,650 free (19:07.85).