Nadadores capture Speedo Winter title

PLANTATION — A total of 27 meet records fell and the Davie Nadadores won their first large swim meet as they captured the 22nd annual Speedo Winter Championships at the Plantation Central Park Pool.

The Nadadores’ Dylan Carter set two individual Florida Gold Coast records andwas a part of three relay records as the Nadadores won the combined total with 2,471points. The South Florida Aquatic Club was second with 2,229 points.

The Davie squad, which has only been in existence for four years, was the highest scoring boys team with 1,678.50 points, while South Florida was the highest scoring girls team with 1,019.50.

“I didn’t come into the meet with any specific record or goal in mind,” said Carter, who swims at American Heritage-Plantation. “I came in to swim and have fun since it is not my final meet of the season. It is a very rough meet with a lot of events. I was happy to pick up the records. I think it is great for our program as well.”

The four-day event drew a record 1,355 swimmers from 71 teams. There were 1,252 swimmers last year. Athletes could swim up to 10 individual events and up to five relays.

Plantation Swim Team coach and tournament director Jimmy Parmenter said they attempted to cut off the number of entries to 1,100. However it would have meant leaving out 12 Florida Gold Coast Swim teams.

“I think it is a great sign for the senior [high school aged] swimmers,” said Parmenter, who had teams from as far away as New York, the Bahamas and Maryland. “Alot of the mare not swimming the events they swam during high school.”

In winning the overall title, the Nadadores broke two long time records during the four-day meet. Jesus Marin, Daniele Tirabassi, Roberto Gomez and Carter set a new Florida Gold Coast record in breaking the 25-year-old mark in the 800 free relay with a time of 6:32:89 and also broke a 16-year-old FGC Open record in the 200 free relay as Tirabassi, Manuel Gonzalez, Carter and Gomez swam to a clocking of1:21:78.

Pine Crest coach Jay Fitzgerald said itwas an important meet for his high school aged swimmers.

“For the high school aged athletes, the 15 and overs, those that are close to having junior national or senior national cuts, this provides them that opportunity,” Fitzgerald said.

Brittany Hammond, a Pine Crest senior, who signed with Missouri last week, said she has fond memories of the meet.

“It is really upsetting that this ismy last winter championships,” said Hammond, 17, who swam in eight events at the meet and had five topfive finishes.”

For complete meet results go to www.swimpst.com.