RECAP: 2016 COLONIES ZONES (APRIL 8-10, 2016)

It’s hard to encapsulate what we did together at Colonies Zones this weekend, but I’ll give it my best shot.  I love being on deck (and in various taverns) with this team, and it’s a thrill to see this big, multi-generational group building and renewing friendships.  A summary of the statistics can only partially capture the meet (and I saw something impressive from every single person who swam this weekend), but here’s a look inside the numbers:

In our second year, Club Tribe finished 6th overall among 70 teams (including the UCs).  We won 30 individual event age group championships, 10 of which beat all comers.  Club Tribe swimmers set 8 new Zone Meet records and 6 Virginia LMSC records in individual events.  In relays, we won 11 age group championships (8 of which beat all comers), establishing 1 new NATIONAL record and 2 new Zone records (and breaking another Zone record on the way to a close second place finish).  Four Club Tribe relays established new Virginia LMSC records.

Gabby Mizerak (18-24) won 4 individual championships (50 BK 27.46, 100 BK 59.10, 50 Fly 25.56, 200 FR 1:54.63), beating all comers in each race, setting 3 Zone records and establishing new Virginia records in the 200 FR and 50 Fly.  Katie Grier (35-39) also won 4 individual championships and also set 3 new Zone records, beating all comers in the 50 FR (24.40) and 100 FR (52.47) en route to Virginia and Zone records in those races.  Katie set another Virginia record by cracking the 2-minute barrier in the 200 FR (1:59.16) and a Zone record in the 50 Fly (26.81).

Kristen Harris (35-39) won her age group in the 50 BR (31.56), 100 BR (1:09.80) and 100 IM (1:06.68), setting new Zone records in the breaststrokes, including a new Virginia record in the 100 BR.  Shannon Greene (30-34) was also a triple winner, taking titles in the 1,650 FR (18:02.35), 200 Fly (2:24.34) and 200 FR (2:07.07).

In their first meets after lengthy breaks from swimming, Sara Shaner (18-24) (50 FR, 24.78, 100 FR, 55.51) and Tyler Joiner (30-34) (50 BK, 30.50, 200 BK 2:26.52) each won 2 individual events.  Mandy Lovett (40-44) took down the 500 FR (6:41.67) and Shannon Sullivan (40-44) won the 50 BK (35.80).  And the whole thing got started by a courageous 100 Free from Phyllis Breidinger, competing at 68 years old in her very first swim meet.

The Men were led individually by Sidney Glass (18-24), who won his age group in the 50 FR (21.79), 100 FR (47.61) and 500 FR (5:05.96), beating all comers in a very tight 100 FR.  Michael Lovett (35-39) won his age group in the 100 FR (49.83) and 100 IM (55.59).  Nate Moyar (18-24) out-touched a few guys at the wire to beat all comers in a thrilling 400 IM (4:33.56), and Kevin Gallagher (25-29) and Kyle Loughran (25-29) also won very close races to beat all comers in the 50 FR (21.20) and 200 FR (1:45.34), respectively.

Coach Rich Williams (40-44) won his age group in the 100 BR (1:03.59), and Kyle Ahlgren (40-44) won his age group in the 1,650 (20:18.03).  And the award for the bravest swim probably goes to Dan Earle, who scrambled to the meet between family responsibilities and tackled the 500 Free after a 20+ year gap.

A breakdown of the relays has to start with the spectacular USMS National Record set by our Women’s 18+ 400 Free Relay of Courtney Hurtubise, Katie Grier, Gabby Mizerak and Sara Shaner (3:35.45).  These ladies demolished the old record of 3:38.39.  I started getting chills when Court nailed her leadoff leg and Katie powered through her opening 50.  By the time Gabby was closing her leg, the only question was how low they would take their new National Record.  Shaner’s answer? Pretty damn low.  Amazing stuff, Swomen!

Club Tribe established three additional Virginia LMSC records in relay events.  Nate Moyar, Sara Shaner, Daniel Mee and Katie Grier pushed a loaded FINS team to the hilt in the 18+ Mixed 400 Free Relay (3:32.70).  Sidney Glass, Rich Williams, Gabby Mizerak and Courtney Hurtubise beat all comers in the Mixed 200 Medley Relay (1:43.36, 18+), as did Kevin Gallagher, Sara Shaner, Kyle Loughran and Gabby Mizerak in the 18+ Mixed 200 Free Relay (1:29.76).  Club Tribe’s 35+ Mixed 200 Free Relay of Courtney Hurtubise, Rich Williams, Michael Lovett and Katie Grier set a new Zone record (1:34.00) in the same race.

Club Tribe beat all comers in 6 other relays:  Women’s 400 Medley Relay (Sullivan, Harris, Mizerak, Greene); Women’s 200 Free Relay (Hurtubise, Grier, Mandy Lovett, Shaner);  Women’s 200 Medley Relay (Joiner, Harris, Greene, Farhat); Men’s 200 Medley Relay (Glass, Williams, Michael Lovett, Brian Lovett); and Mixed 400 Medley Relay (Joiner, D’Aguillo, Brian Lovett, Julia Davidson).  The Women’s 35+ 200 Medley Relay of Sullivan, Mandy Lovett, Davidson and Michele Choe also won its age group, and last – but certainly not least – the ALL LOVETT team (Lindsay –> Mandy –> Brian –> Michael) took home the 35+ championship in the Mixed 200 Medley Relay.

Having said all that, there are still excellent performances – one after the other – not even mentioned above.

I’m working to load all the videos into Dropbox and we’ll send out access information once it’s ready.

I’m not in the habit of wishing away days during a swim taper, but I really can’t wait to do this again with our Nationals crew down in Greensboro.  More on that soon……

Click here for complete results.

GOOOOOOO, TRIBE GO !!