Three Winnemucca girls took part in the 2019 Nevada State Swimming Championship in Henderson on Nov. 8-11.
The Winnemucca team merged with a larger team in Reno to provide more support to the community a little over a year ago. The squad that went to Henderson included Claudia van der Veen, Paris Collins and Colette van der Veen.
The group is the Northern Nevada Aquatics Winnemucca and coached by head coach Madison Gray-Jensen and assistant coach Sarah Wilkey.
“This is our biggest meet of the year, so they have worked really hard all year long to qualify for the max number of events possible,” said Gray-Jensen. “I am just amazed by their hard work in and out of the pool to prepare for this meet and it shows by the number of personal bests they went. Also swimming is not just a physical sport, but there is a huge emotional/mental component which we are really trying to empower and instill self-confidence in our swimmers. This really showed at this meet as it is long and grueling, but they pushed through and performed at the top of their game. I am excited to watch our team grow and develop over the next competitive season.”
Claudia van der Veen
Competes 13-14 girls
• 200 free 2:15.76. Best time by 2.57 seconds — 37th
• 100 breast 1:27.36 — 39th place
• 100 fly 1:07.96. Best time by 1.36 seconds — 25th
• 200 IM 2:33.20. Best time by 2.54 seconds — 48th
• 100 Free 1:01.38. Best time by .34 seconds — 29th.
• 100 back 1:07.13. Best time by .80 seconds — 24th.
• 50 free 28:01. Best time by .03 seconds — 34th
Paris Collins
13-14 girls
• 200 free 2:14.65. Best time by 5.04 seconds — 32nd
• 200 back 2:29.16. Best time by 5.11 seconds — 25th
• 100 fly 1:12.58. Best time by 1.48 seconds — 35th
• 100 free 1:01.36. Best time by .89 seconds — 28th.
• 100 back 1:07.38. Best time by 3.83 seconds — 25th
•50 free 27.83. Best time by .24 seconds — 30th
Colette van der Veen
11-12 girls
• 50 breast 39.37. Best time by .83 seconds — 16th. Got to swim again in finals where she wa 15th and swam 39.08 — best time by 1.12 seconds.
• 100 back 1:15.13. Best time by .23 seconds —20th. Got to swim again in finals where she placed 19th at 1:15.32.
