THE GORGE — Hood River and The Dalles summer swim teams both had athletes who swam hard and utilized their practices effectively to help them qualify for the USA Swimming/Oregon Swimming Inc. (OSI) Long Course State Championship 10-and-under meet July 12-13 in Albany.
The Dalles swimmers who earned a spot in the prestigious event included brothers Holten and Harlan Lawrence. Holten competed in six events in the age 9 division, and he swam personal-best times in each race, while recording six top-10 finishes. His best swim was a second place in the 50-meter backstroke finals with a time of 42.78 seconds. Holten Lawrence also recorded fourth place finishes in the 200-meter freestyle (3:05.85) and the 100-meter backstroke (1:33.28), took fifth in the 50 free (36.86), was seventh in the 50 butterfly (43.53) and he took ninth place in the 100 free (1:25.36). Harlan Lawrence, age 7, swam in the age 8 and under division, finishing in 19th place in the 50-meter breaststroke with a personal-best time (1:04.78).
The Hood River swim team had four athletes who qualified for the 10-and-under state meet, but only one of them participated in the event. Gracie Adams competed in the boys age 9 division, and he swam in five events.
Adams recorded four top-10 finishes and he had his best race with a ninth-place effort in the 200 free (3:18.47). Adams also notched 10th place finishes in the 100 free (1:26.51), the 50 breast (54.77) and the 50 free with a personal best time of 39.20. He also took 20th place in the 50 back (56.41).
The Dalles and Hood River swimmers will compete in the OSI Long Course State Championship 11 and over meet July 24-27 at the Mt. Hood Community College Aquatic Center in Gresham.
Hood River boys team members Mason Epstein and Rowan Hogue qualified for the meet and they’ll both swim in six events while competing in the age 11 division. Hood River’s Felipe Mendez also qualified for the state meet.
The Dalles has two swimmers who qualified for the 11-and-over state meet. Boys team member Sebastian Powell, 11, qualified to compete and Solana Doty, 12, qualified for the girls team. The Dalles swim team will conclude the summer season with their final event Aug. 8-10 at Newport.
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