UKIAH — The Lake County Channel Cats made a splash during the Ukiah Soroptimist Swim meet hosted by the Ukiah Dolphins swim club on June 24-26 at Ukiah.
More than 250 swimmers representing several North Bay Area teams took part in the annual event, which features a 1,650-yard freestyle (a 66-lap race in the 25-yard pool).
Channel Cat girls turned in strong performances in the distance events, helping the team to a third-place finish.
Competing in 11 events, Lauren Rudnick, 11, took first in the 100 backstroke and the 400 individual medley (IM) and placed third in the 1,650 freestyle, scoring two new PC-A times the 400 IM and 1,650 freestyle. Rudnick also achieved a PC-A time in the 200 IM, where she placed third.
Allison Hanson, 15, swam to firsts in the 200 freestyle, the 500 freestyle and the 1,650 freestyle. She finished second with a new PC-B time in the 100 breaststroke.
Chelo Lundquist Krag, 17, competing in the girls” 17-18 division, won the 100 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 200 breaststroke and 200 IM.
Sarah Merodio, 14, placed second and sixth, respectively, in the 200 butterfly and 200 breaststroke.
Robin Adams, 7, achieved new PC-A times in both the 100 IM and the 25 backstroke, and placed first in the 25 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 50 butterfly and 100 IM in the girls” 8-and-under division.
Nikki Hanson, 10, collected a new PC-B time in the 200 freestyle with a fifth-place finish in girls” 10-and-under division.
Candace Clayton, 12, had personal bests in 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke and 100 IM.
In boys” action, Matteo Merodio, 17, swam the 50 freestyle in 24.66 seconds while also taking home firsts in the 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 breaststroke and 200 IM.
Charlie Adams, 10, qualified at Far Western level time in the 50 freestyle, placing second in the event, and took home a first in the 200 freestyle with a Far Western time of 2 minutes, 21.08 seconds.
Merodio and Adams plan to compete this weekend at Pacific Swimming”s long course Junior Olympics in San Jose.
The Lake County Channel Cats swim daily at the Westshore Pool in Lakeport from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Space is currently open in both recreational swim lesson groups and swim team sessions. All swim instruction is taught by USA Swim-certified coaches. Participation in competitive swimming meets is not a mandatory requirement in the Channel Cat program but is encouraged.
Those interested in swimming opportunities with the Channel Cats may contact Jen Hanson at 263-3131 or visit the team website at www.lakecountychannelcats.com
