The Mountain Club team at the 2023 NM Swimming Long Course State Championships in Albuquerque. Courtesy/Anna Zhang
By ANNA ZHANG
Swimming Coach
Mountain Club
The 2023 New Mexico Swimming Long Course State Championships were held July 6-9 at West Mesa Aquatic Center in Albuquerque.
Results for all New Mexico teams at the championships:
Mountain Club entered 15 swimmers with 11 team relays, and our swimmers finished 6th place as a team with 290 points.
Here were the individual results of our Mountain swimmers:
- Alma Hurlocker (14): a daughter Beth Sanchez and Sandy Hurlocker, finished 1st @100 Breast, 2nd @200 Breast, 5th @50 Breast, 6th @200 IM, 14th @200 Back, 15th @400 Free, and 25th @200 Free in the Girls 13-14 age group.
- Thomas Daligault (13): a son of Jerome and Hajnalka Daligault, finished 3rd @100 Breast, 50 Fly, and 50 Breast, 4th @100 Free, 5th @50 Free, 6th @200 Free, and 7th @200 Breast in the Boys 13-14 age group.
- Sonya Pakin (12): a daughter of Scott Pakin and Anna Matsekh, finished 2nd @200 IM, 3rd @200 Breast, 100 Breast, and100 Back, 5th @50 Free, 100 Free, and 50 Breast in the Girls 11-12 age group.
- Emilie Daligault (12): a daughter of Jerome and Hajnalka Daligault, finished 3rd @200IM, 10th @100 breast, 13th @100 Free and 100 Back, and 18th @50 Free in the Girls 11-12 age group.
- Justin Lei (10): a son of Zhou Lei and Yaping Huang, finished 1st @200 IM, 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Breast, 100 Breast, and 100 Back, and 2nd @50 Fly in the Boys 10 & Under age group.
- Zdenek Certik (10): a son of Ondrej and Michelle Certik, finished 2nd @100 Breast, 3rd @50 Free, 4th @200IM, 200 Free, 100 Fly and 50 Breast, and 6th @100 back in the Boys 10 & Under age group.
- Benjamin Minko (10): a son of Yury Minko and Tatyana Elkin, finished 3rd @50 Back, 5th @100 Fly, 7th @50 Free, 100 Free, and 50 Fly, 8th @200IM and 100 Back in the Boys 10 & Under age group.
- Eleanora Minko (7): a daughter of Yury Minko and Tatyana Elkin, finished 4th @100 Breast, 7th @200 Free, 12th @100 Back, 13th @100 Free, and also swam 50 Free in the Girls 10 & Under age group.
Here were the team relay results of our Mountain club:
- The team of Sydney Chen (9), Melia Arbuckle (9), Eleanora Minko (7), and Preslee Robinson (8):
- DQ — Girls 10 & Under 200 Medley Relay (coach’s mistake)
- 6th — Girls 10 & Under 200 Free Relay
- The team of Daniel Certik (8), Zdenek Certik (10), Benjamin Minko (10), and Justin Lei (10):
- 2nd — Boys 10 & Under 200 Medley Relay
- 2nd — Boys 10 & Under 200 Free Relay
- The team of Emilie Daligault (12), Olivia Haroz (12), Charlie Dixon (10), Sonya Pakin (12):
- 7th — Girls 12 & Under 400 Free Relay
- 7th — Girls 12 & Under 200 Medley Relay
- 8th — Girls 12 & Under 200 Free Relay
- 6th — Girls 12 & Under 400 Medley Relay
- The team of Eleanora Minko (7), Zdenek Certik (10), Justin lei (10), and Preslee Robinson (8):
- 4th — Mixed 10 & Under 200 Medley Relay – A
- The team of Sydney Chen (9), Melia Arbuckle (9), Benjamin Minko (10), and Daniel Certik (8):
- 7th — Mixed 10 & Under 200 Medley Relay – B
- The team of Emilie Daligault (12), Alma Hurlocker (14), Thomas Daligault (13), and Damian Scammell (13):
- 6th — Mixed 14 & Under 200 Medley Relay
Special thanks to our relay swimmers and their parents for their supporting the championships!
Without their contribution, we cannot have this strong team!
- Daniel Certik (8): a son of Ondrej and Michelle Certik
- Preslee Robinson (8): a daughter of Jacob and Jessica Robinson
- Sydney Chen (9): a daughter of Aiping Chen and Pei Huang
- Melia Arbuckle (9): a daughter of Jeffrey and Nora Arbuckle
- Charlie Dixon (10): a daughter of Jessica and David Dixon
- Olivia Haroz (12): a daughter of Erik and Ellaine Haroz
- Damian Scammell (13): a son of Nik Allen and Sarah Downs
Justin Lei (10) placed the first for the high point award in the Boys 10 & Under age group at this championship.
Justin Lei (10) and Thomas Daligault (13) achieved the 2023 West Zone Age Group time standards. Together with other club swimmers, both of them plus Zdenek Certik (10) will represent the New Mexico to join the 2023 West Zone Age Group Championships on August 2 – 5, 2023 at the Greater Boise Aquatic Centre, Idaho.
For this season, our club individual recognition goes to Eleanora Minko (7). She was the youngest qualifier to compete at the long course state championships, and had 5 “BB” times (qualified events): 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Back, and 100 Breast. She is an amazing girl!
We are proud of her!
Congratulations to ALL of our swimmers and parents!
Note, our Mountain Club will NOT participate in the 2023 NM Summer B Championship Meet at Las Cruces this year.
Courtesy/Anna Zhang
Courtesy/Anna Zhang
Courtesy/Anna Zhang
Courtesy/Anna Zhang
Courtesy/Anna Zhang