High altitude didn’t slow down the Durango Swim Club at the Aspen Yellow Leaf Invite on Oct. 12-13 in Aspen.
Durango competed against Sopris, Steamboat Springs, Castle Rock, Cortez and Montrose.
The club didn’t win the meet, but the swimmers still turned in strong performances.
Haley Benjamin won all of her events in the 13-14 age group, including the 200-yard freestyle, 200-yard butterfly and 400 individual medley.
“Haley is proof that the right mental attitude and the drive to win is a big part of success,” DSC head coach Suzanne Schieltz said in an email to The Durango Herald. “She even competed against some of the best 15-18 year olds here and still did great.”
Quinn Schmidt, 10 years old, and Iain McCourt, 13, also took first-place finishes in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle, respectively.
Schmidt also placed second in the 500-yard freestyle and eighth in the 100-yard freestyle and 100-meter backstroke.
McCourt took third place in the 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle and fourth in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard breaststroke.
Steevie Delio, 12, placed second in the 200-yard backstroke, third in the 500-yard freestyle and fourth in the 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke and 50-yard butterfly.
“It’s hard swimming at 8,500 feet,” Schieltz said. “But the kids swam exceptionally well for this time of year and such a high altitude.”
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
