Nome Northstar Swim Team holds Gold Rush Meet
Last Saturday Nome Northstar Swim Team conducted the second annual “Gold Rush Meet” at the Nome Swimming Pool.
Thirty-one swimmers competed against themselves and each other. In addition, all swimmers aged 10years-old and younger swam for times that will be submitted for the Statewide Postal Swim Meet, meaning that the 10 & under swimmers were competing against swimmers located throughout Alaska.
“I really liked how they all cheered each other on if they weren’t racing,” said Coach Lahka Peacock, who coaches the Flounder group of swimmers Kindergarten through second grade. “Lots of beginners get disqualified on the back stroke, but every one of the Flounders swam it perfectly! I have no doubt they will do the same at the Northern Area Championship meet in Fairbanks in April,” he said.
Junior Coach Lizzy Hahn aged up during the meet, and will become a fully vested member of the NNST coaching staff. Any future US Swimming competitions for her will be done as a Master’s Swimmer. “Lizzy has been an invaluable part of the coaching team; she has gone from a beginning swimmer to a mentor; we will certainly miss her when she leaves for college and hope other swimmers will follow in the path she has blazed,” said Coach Melissa Ford.
The Gold Rush Meet was established by former swim coach Davis Hovey. While it was canceled during the pandemic, NNST plans to make it a regular annual event. Generous donations from Nome Pioneers, Lion’s Club, Northern Air Cargo, Northrim Bank, Alaska Communication Systems and private individuals will be used to purchase timing equipment that will allow the Nome team to host sanctioned events.
The meet ended with an exhibition relay with coaches and parents while the hard-working swimmers kicked back and cheered (and laughed) from the sidelines.