MOSCOW, Idaho — Recently, seven top swimmers from Manta Ray Aquatics competed at the Short Course Championship Meet in Moscow, Idaho.

Owen Devine and Melody Lake, both 10 years old, kicked off the meet on Day 1 with best times in their 200 freestyle events. Lake would continue to drop time throughout the meet, achieving best times in all of her events, and placing in the top eight in five of her events.

Devine dropped time in several of his events, including a six-second cut in his 100 backstroke, and had three top eight finishes.

Melody Lake’s brother, Garrett, just coming off of high school season, competed in three individual events and anchored the boys 400 medley relay, which placed eighth.

Brittney Richeson, also a high school swimmer, posted a best time in her 500 freestyle. Jessica Williams had an incredible 100 freestyle swim, breaking the one-minute mark for the first time, with a time of 59.28.

She would also go on to have a fifth place finish in her 200 breaststroke. Zachary Washburn placed first in the 50 and 100 freestyle events, breaking 50 seconds in the 100 for the first time, with a time of 49.57. He had six top three finishes overall.

Teammate Cole Lindberg cut three seconds from his 200 butterfly, and qualified for Age Group Regionals in that event. Lindberg also swam a personal best in his 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley. Both Lindberg and Zachary Washburn are training for the upcoming Age Group Regionals Meet in Federal Way later this month.

Unattached swimmer Kemper solid at championship meet

Submitted by Randy Kemper

MOSCOW, Idaho — This past weekend Eric Kemper, 14, unattached USA registered swimmer, participated in the Inland Empire Short Course Championship meet held in Moscow, Idaho.

Kemper placed in the top nine of all eight events that he swam and qualified for two Age Group Regionals events, swam for six best times and took a meet record.

In the 200 butterfly, Kemper took first place and dropped over a full second for a best time of 2:00.56; Kemper also took first in the 100 butterfly, dropping over a second on that swim as well for a best time of 53.42, and broke the meet record.

In the mile, Kemper took second place, dropping over 14 seconds for a best time of 18:28.59. In the 200 individual medley, Kemper took third place, dropping over a second for a best time of 2:05.89; good enough to qualify him for Age Group Regionals.

Kemper finished fourth in the 200 freestyle, dropping over two seconds for a best time of 1:51.70, good enough for another Age Group Regionals qualifying time. In the 100 freestyle, Kemper dropped over a second for a best time of 51.68, and took fifth place; he also placed fifth in the 400 individual medley. Kemper took ninth in the 500 freestyle.

Kemper will travel to Federal Way to participate in the 2017 Northwest Region Short Course Age Group Championships, where he will be competing against other athletes his age from Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming.