Everyone in the Pool

With all of the attention on the Olympics and summer sports, it’s time to give swimming its due. I have to admit I’ve been watching the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials, along with the track and field trials as well.

He may not be headed for Beijing, but look out for 13-year-old Jack DesCombes, who is ranked seventh in California in the 100 butterfly and will be competing in the Junior Olympics in Mission Viejo in August.

Jack, whose parents Susie and Gordon are both Claremont High grads, recently competed in the “AA” long course championships in June. He figures to be among the top swimmers in his age class next year when he turns 14. At Ventura, he finished second in the consolation finals of the 50-meter freestyle. His time of 27.62 was only .33 off of being a Southern California Swimming Recordable Time (SCSRT), which recognizes the top 16 times in Southern California.

He was sixth in the finals of the 100 butterfly, competing as the only 13 in the finals. His time was only .05 seconds off an SCSRT time. In addition, he was fifth in the consolation finals of the 100 freestyle, and second in the consolation finals of the 200-meter individual medley. His seeded time was 2:35.21 coming in to the meet, but in the prelims he dropped to 2:31.61 and then dropped more time in the consolations to 2:29.78.

Before he moved up in age class, Jack swam four SCSRT times in one meet last fall, qualifying as an 11-12 year old in the 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, 50 butterfly and 100 individual medley.

As Jack sets off for the Junior Olympics, he’ll do so knowing that several swimmers from his team were in the running for bids to the Olympic Trials, including a 14-year-old girl who qualified to compete in Omaha.

Go Jacko… we’ll be rooting for you!

The link to Southern California Swimming is http://socalswim.org.