Three of our Eagle Swim Team Members participated in an Elite level swim meet, the TAC Blizzard Blitz in Cary, NC this past weekend with their club swim team, 757swim. With a field that was composed of over 500 of the fastest swimmers in Virginia and North Carolina, this meet was a prelim and finals competition, meaning all swimmers participate in the morning preliminary qualifying heats, with top swimmers moving on to a finals session in the evening.  Sophomore Lainey Flanagan had an incredible meet in the 15 & over division, swimming personal bests in all but one event of eight swum. Included in these was her very first Senior State Championship qualifying time in the 100 Backstroke.

Freshman Kaitlyn Sullivan swam eight personal bests as well in nine races in the 13 & 14-year-old division, qualifying for three finals in which she was in the top 8 qualifiers (50 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Free), and four others where she placed 8th through 16th in prelims (200 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Back, 200 IM). In the finals races, Kaitlyn swam a third-place finish in the 50 Free, earning her a qualification for the National level USA Swimming Futures Championship Meet next summer, as well as 6th place finishes in the 100 Breast and 100 Free, 10th place in the 200 Breast, 13th place in both the 200 Back and 200 Individual Medley, and 14th in the 200 Free.

WCA 7th Grader Delaney Gibbons had by far the biggest statement meet in the 11&12-year old division. Gibbons made 5 finals by placing in the top eight of the 50-yard backstroke, 100-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, and 50-yard butterfly. Delaney started out in the first day coming within 0.07 seconds of being the event winner in the 50 backstroke, settling for a well-earned 2nd place overall finish. She also swam to a 6th place finish in the 100IM. Her second day started out well, with finals qualifying races in the 50 free and 100 Back, before she substantially aggravated a pre-existing back strain, causing her to withdraw from the 500 Freestyle mid-race. After relaxing and some treatment, however, Gibbons not only pressed on to the finals but dropped time in both events. She would wind up 6th in the 50 Free, and another 2nd place finish in the 100 Backstroke. On the final day, Gibbons placed 8th in the finals of the 50 Butterfly.