PETALUMA — Five members of the Lake County Channel Cats swim team recently participated in a long-course event at the Petaluma Swim Center.
“This is a real first for us,” coach Agustin Merodio said of the 50-meter pool the event was held in, which is twice the length of the 25-meter Westshore Pool the Channel Cats practice in at Lakeport
The five participating Channel Cats are members of the Cats” winter team, which is another first.
“We have always been a summer-only team, but decided to try a year-round schedule for 2007-2008,” team president Jennifer Hanson said. “We believe that staying in the water longer makes for a competitively stronger team.”
Of the five Channel Cats competing in Petaluma, Matteo Merodio achieved BB-level times in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle events. BB times were the best times attainable at this meet (the fastest swimmers are BB, next are B, and third are C times). Merodio also won the 200 breaststroke.
Other highlights included Cameron Bell”s win in the 200 individual medley; Allison Hanson”s second in the 200 backstroke; Anais Fay”s fourth-place finish in the 200 individual medley; and Sarah Merodio”s ninth-place finish in the 100 freestyle.
Coach Merodio said he was “quite proud of each and every swimmer” who competed and looks forward to the Channel Cats” next meet on June 14-15 in Vallejo.
