SAN JOSE — Lakeport swimmer Charlie Adams went up against top competition last weekend and won two medals during the Speedo Long Course Far Western Meet in San Jose.
The high-level event drew many of the fastest age group swimmers from across the United States as well as top swimmers from Canada and Mexico.
The 12-year-old Adams, who began his swimming career with the Lake County Channel Cats and now swims year-round with the Ukiah Dolphins, has been practicing twice a day all summer to prepare. Despite the lack of training opportunity in a “long course” 50-meter pool, Adams has been able to successfully compete at four long course meets this season while racking up a long list of qualifying times.
Adams swam in his eight best events during the four days of Far Western competition. He improved his time in five events and made it to the finals and won medals for a seventh-place finish in the 1,500 freestyle (19 minutes, 16.96 seconds) and an eight-place finish in the 200 backstroke in boys” 11-12 division.
Adams, a seventh-grader at Terrace Middle School in Lakeport, also swam strong races to place 10th in the 800 freestyle (10:00.20) and 13th in the 400 freestyle (4:53.18). He finished 15th in the 200 freestyle, 16th in the 100 backstroke, and 17th in the 400 individual medley.
