Haley Benjamin proved she belonged with some of the top swimmers in the west at the Age Group Zone swim meet Aug. 6-9 in Federal Way, Washington.
Swimming in the 13-14 age group, Benjamin took fourth overall in the 1,500-meter freestyle in 18 minutes, 2.8 seconds. She picked up another top-five finish in the 800-meter freestyle in fifth at 9:23.32.
Benjamin closed out the meet with two other top-10 swims: She was sixth in the 400-meter freestyle in 4:46.17 and seventh in the 200-meter freestyle in 2:10.72.
“I had a lot of fun getting to know new people around the state and from other swim clubs,” Benjamin said in an email to The Durango Herald. “This was the biggest meet I have been to so far. It was so much fun and such a great experience, and I was so happy with the way I swam; I did much better than I thought I would.”
Benjamin swam for Colorado at the meet, which won the 17-team event featuring clubs from all over the western United States, with 120 points. Benjamin was one of 80 swimmers to represent Colorado at the meet.
“I am so proud of Haley,” Durango Swim Club head coach Suzanne Schieltz said in the email. “She never wants to lose and swims like a champion. Swimming at sea level for her was an amazing experience, and she destroyed her times that she swims at meets in Colorado at 5,000 feet or above. We are all very proud of her.”
That meet closed the summer session for the DSC, but it will begin the 2014-2015 season Monday.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
