Los Alamos Clubs Compete Well At 2023 New Mexico State Short Course Swim Championships In Albuquerque

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on March 15, 2023
- 9:40 am

Carson Hick included as top performers for the Aquatomics, who brought home six first place honors in the 15 and over age group. Courtesy photo

Fayrouz Mourad places fourth in the 1,650 freestyle. Courtesy photo

SPORTS News:

Although the high school swim season wrapped up in February, the New Mexico State Short Course Swim Championships brought many of the same athletes back to Albuquerque Academy, along with a tier of fast swimmers who had not participated in high school swimming but were ready to show their stuff at a championship level.

From March 2 through March 5, 16 clubs brought more than 500 swimmers together for this meet. While powerhouse clubs in Albuquerque dominated the four-day event, the Los Alamos community was well-represented by both of its swim clubs. The Los Alamos Aquatomics placed eighth, and the Mountain Club placed ninth.

This championship meet counted more than 100 events for swimmers as well as relay races for teams to earn extra points. Age group swimming divides athletes into a youngest group (10 and under) middle groups (11 to 12 years old and 13 to 14 years old), and a group of athletes 15 years and older. Events run from as short as the 50-yard freestyle, to the 1,650 yard freestyle. The athletes swim various distances (50, 100, 200 yards) in four competition strokes: freestyle, butterfly, breast, and back.

By the end of the weekend, top performers for the Aquatomics included Carson Hick, who brought home six first place honors in the 15 and over age group (1,650 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 200 butterfly, and 100 freestyle). In the 11-12 age group, Ammon Lee made finals seven times, placing as high as second in the 100 yard back and 200 yard freestyle. In the 13-14 age group Madalyn Baily brought home a fourth place in the 1,650 yard freestyle, and a fifth place in the 200 yard freestyle.

Fayrouz Mourad placed fourth in the 1,650 freestyle and fifth in the 400 individual medley (IM). To round out team swimmers who finished in the top five places, Alma Hurlocker placed fifth in the 200 breast in the 13-14 age group.

For the Mountain Club, in the 10 and under age group Justin Lei brought home five first place honors (50 free, 100 breast, 50 butterfly, and 100 yard individual medley (IM) and 50 yard breast). Thomas Daligault placed in the top five in all of his events, with a third place in 100 breast, fourth places in the 200 IM and 200 breast, and a fifth place finish in the 200 free in the 13-14 age group. Benji Minko brought home a fourth place (100 fly) and three fifth places (50 back, 50 fly, 100 back). For the girls, Sonya Pakin finished with a fourth place in the 200 IM, and a fifth in the 200 breast in the 11-12 age group.

Because of the inclusion of so many ages, along with a format that has preliminary races in the mornings and finals in the evening, the meet required both physical and mental toughness for swimmers, officials, and parents alike.

Max White, breast. Courtesy photo