By Chadron Sharks
Five members of the Chadron Sharks Swim Team competed in their last meet of 2023 at the Black Hills Gold Pentathlon in Spearfish, SD on December 16th. There were 180 swimmers from eleven teams at the meet, representing Buffalo, Gillette, and Newcastle, WY; Chadron and Scottsbluff, NE; and Sturgis, Rapid City, Pierre, Hot Springs, Deadwood/Lead, and Spearfish, SD.
The pentathlon challenges a swimmer’s all-around ability, requiring them to participate and accumulate points in 5 events – Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly, and Individual Medley, with the top 5 total point leaders from each age group landing on the awards podium.
Fabiola Benitez-Socarras, age 11, swam against twenty-two 11–12-year-old girls and finished with an 18th place tie. She achieved personal best times in all events, shaving off a total of 50.72 seconds. 50 Meter Free – 54.79 (-2.30 seconds), 21st place; 50 Meter Breast – 1:01.19 (-4.01 seconds), 16th place; 50 Meter Back – 1:00.30 (-0.88 seconds), 21st place; 50 Meter Fly – 1:37.38 (-2.33 seconds), 22nd place; 100 Meter Individual Medley – 2:35.06 (-41.20 seconds), 22nd place.
Carter Peters, age 14, competed with fifteen 13–14-year-old boys, finishing just off the podium with a 6th place finish. He continues to take time off, a total of 27.74 seconds at this meet, and also achieved personal best times in every event. 100 Meter Free – 1:08.09 (-2.32 seconds), 4th place; 100 Meter Breast – 1:32.34 (-4.83 seconds), 6th place; 100 Meter Back – 1:23.81 (-6.39 seconds), 7th place; 100 Meter Fly – 1:29.11 (-6.93 seconds), 8th place; and 200 Meter Individual Medley – 3:00.60 (-7.27 seconds), 8th place. He has qualified for State in the 50 and 100 Free.
The remaining three Sharks all competed in the 15 & over girls category with fourteen swimmers.
Valeria Benitez-Socarras, age 15, swam 3 personal records, dropping 6.54 seconds this meet and placed 12th overall. 100 Meter Free – 1:23.52 (-2.36 seconds), 12th place; 100 Meter Breast – 1:52.34 (-2.28 seconds), 11th place; 100 Meter Back – 1:37.93 (-1.90 seconds), 11th place; 100 Meter Fly – 2:00.03, 12th place; 200 Meter Individual Medley – 3:46.97, 10th place. She has qualified for State in the 50 Free.
Raylie Pourier, age 16, placed 7th overall, swam 4 personal bests, took off 21.38 seconds through her events, and qualified for State in her second event. 100 Meter Free – 1:13.58, 8th place; 100 Meter Breast 1:37.79(-5.13 seconds), 7th place; 100 Meter Back – 1:28.76 (-2.32 seconds), 8th place; 100 Meter Fly – 1:27.53 (-5.30 seconds), 7th place; 200 Meter Individual Medley – 3:14.79 (-8.63 seconds), 8th place. She has now qualified for State in the 50 and 100 Free.
Kenzie Pourier, age 17, placed 10th in the age group. 100 Meter Free – 1:25.01, 13th place; 100 Meter Breast – 1:57.40, 13th place; 100 Meter Back – 1:36.03, 9th place; 100 Meter Fly – 1:49.82, 11th place; 200 Meter Individual Medley – 3:42.03, 9th place.
The next out-of-town meet for the Sharks will be January 6-7, 2024 in Deadwood, SD. The team will be hosting their meet, the Chadron’s New Year’s Splash at the Chadron Aquatic Center January 13-14, 2024, and invites the community to come out and support the swimmers at their meet.