The Durango Swim Club finished second overall at the Cortez Invitational last weekend to kick off the summer season.
Haley Benjamin won all of her individual events and earned state qualifying times in the 200-meter freestyle and 200 individual medley. Since she’ll turn 13 this summer, Benjamin is trying to make qualifying times for the next age group, which coach Suzanne Schieltz said is never easy in an email to The Durango Herald.
“Haley has no fear of pain; that’s what makes her successful,” Schieltz said. “She is not scared to swim any race.”
Mira Joyner, 13, also took home a trio of gold medals, placing first in the 100 and 200 backstroke races and in the 200 individual medley. She took second in the 100 freestyle.
Joci Earl, 13, went 2-3-4, taking silver in the 400 freestyle, bronze in the 200 breaststroke and fourth in the 200 individual medley.
Angela McManus tried to follow suit, going 3-4-5 with a third-place 50 breaststroke, fourth-place 100 breast and fifth-place 100 individual medley. McManus, who had much success in the younger age groups, has been working with the older swimmers, and it’s paying off.
Barron and Miles Bronson, ages 8 and 11, respectively, and relative newcomers to swimming, showed some potential in Barron’s first-ever competition.
Barron placed sixth in the 25 freestyle and ninth in the 25 backstroke; Miles took seventh in the 200 free and sixth in the 100 back.
But Barron wasn’t the youngest Durango swimmer. Aileen McManus, 4, took 12th in the 25 free and ninth in the 25 backstroke.
“Most of the crowd was amazed she was 4, but I have watched Aileen swim with her mom, Trish, at the pool for the last two years, and I knew she would be on our team soon,” Schieltz said.
DSC competed in Ouray on Saturday and will host a meet in Durango on June 22 and 23.
heraldsports @durangoherald.com
