Pickeral, West Excel at State Swimming Age Group Championships
Hargrave Aquatics qualified three individuals for the 2007 VSI Short Course Age Group Championships, a highly competitive state level meet for athletes aged 14 and under.
The championships ran for three and one half days from March 15 to March 18, 2007. It included the fastest boys and girls from all over the commonwealth and was held at two locations on the Peninsula. Both the Midtown Aquatic Center and the Ft. Eustis Aquatic Center in Newport News hosted this large event. Over 500 athletes participated.
Three Hargrave Aquatics team members earned multiple qualification times in several events to participate in the meet. They represented the north, central and southern parts of Pittsylvania County/Danville region. They were:
Chelsea Law, age 14, of Gretna. Parents David and Allison Law.
Ali Stephens-Pickeral, age 12, of Danville. Parents Andy Pickeral and Ann Stephens.
David West, age 12, of Altavista. Parents Dr. David West and Karen West.
West entered the state competition with a full slate of eight qualified events, the maximum allowed. He started the meet very strong for the team by earning 3rd place in both the 500y and 200y Freestyle events, earning a 5:21.57 and 2:02.00 respectively. These are both his top two best events.29 athletes met the qualifying time of was 5:59.99 for the 500y Freestyle. 29 boys qualified with a 2:15.19 or faster for the 200y Freestyle events.
“David was looking for a second place or even a first, but it was not from lack of effort,” said Hargrave Aquatics Age Group Coach William Wiebking. “They were both extremely tough races.”
West also earned at 5th place in the 100y Freestyle out of 46 competitors, dropping to a 56.56 over prelims and finals swims. He was also 8th in the 200y Backstroke, 2:25.32; 11th in the 50y Freestyle, 26.51; 16th 50y Backstroke, 31.77; 16th 100y Backstroke, 1:08.99; and 20th in the 200y IM, 2:27.64.
Pickeral got to a rough start on Friday in her 50y Breaststroke, placing 16th with a new best time of 34.40 Trouble. Pickeral accidentally managed to gulp water and choke enough to slow her down during both the prelim and finals events. While somewhat disappointing, it also forced her to renew her effort at the meet.
On Saturday, Pickeral was screaming in the water. In the 100y Breaststroke, she was 5th out of 36 girls following her prelims, 1:14.06, dropping approximately one second from her former best time. She then decided that we would go under a 1:12.00 for finals. In finals, she went a 1:11.76 and moved up two places to third in a very surprising turn of events for her competition.
On Sunday, Pickeral competed in the 200y Breaststroke, dropping form at 2:45.09 to a 2:41.71 in prelims, and was 6th going into finals. That evening, she managed another huge drop to a 2:37.36. This moved her up two places again to 4th place.
“All of the 11-12 girls racing the 200y Breaststroke were aware of Ali’s capability by Sunday,” said Coach Wiebking. “It was a real cutthroat finish for everyone in that final. Even the established leader, Blair Carnes (of Richmond), was threatened.”
Law managed to qualify for five events. While she did not place, she did have some very respectable performances, most notably in the 100y and 200y Breaststroke events.
Law’s first event was the 100y Breaststroke on Friday. She managed to improve her time from at 1:16.16 to a 1:14.67, crushing her heat and moving way up to 31st out of 64 girls competing. In the 200y Breaststroke she managed a similar feat by moving to 25th place out of 56 girls entered and broke the tough 2:40 barrier with a 2:39.71.
Law was also 42nd out of 53 athletes in the 200y IM, 2:23.84; 42nd out of 46 athletes in 400y IM, 5:06.68; and 53rd out of 67 athletes in the 200y Freestyle, 2:06.68.
“Chelsea is a great competitor and an impressive young lady,” said Wiebking. “She has had a tough season training, but seems to be on track for the summer. I always look forward to watching her race.”
Competition for the top two spots in any event in the meet was exceedingly strong since, typically, the winners qualify for a state regional meet involving the entire Northeast United States. In that meet, the qualified individuals represent Virginia against other states such as New York, Pennsylvania and others. Only the fastest of the fast compete in that state regional meet. 10 and Under, 11-12 year olds and 13-14 year olds travel as a team to represent Virginia in that competition. Unfortunately, both West and Pickeral fell short of this goal by earning third place finishes.
The team was challenged with a 100 point combined point goal for meet. The Hargrave girls earned 32 points. West earned 65 points. Their combined total was 97 points. “This was not disappointing,” said Wiebking, “and was a very ambitious, but fun, goal.”
“The team placed 22nd for Girl’s and 23rd for boy’s teams overall with just three athletes,” said Wiebking. “I’m very proud of all three of them.”
