Synchronized swimmers roll through Federal Way

By Casey Olson • April 7, 2009 3:52 pm
Thomas Jefferson High School student Katie LaBounty performs her solo routine Friday afternoon inside the King County Aquatic Center at the Speedo Junior National Synchronized Swimming Championships . LaBounty and Seattle Synchro teammate
Thomas Jefferson High School student Katie LaBounty performs her solo routine Friday afternoon inside the King County Aquatic Center at the Speedo Junior National Synchronized Swimming Championships . LaBounty and Seattle Synchro teammate

Nearly 300 elite athletes gathered last weekend at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center for the Speedo Junior National Synchronized Swimming Championships. The meet featured the top athletes from 15 to 18 years old, who competed for Junior National titles in the solo, duet, trio and team events in Federal Way.

The three-day event culminated Saturday with final competitions in the four events inside the Aquatic Center.

In the solo finals, Troy Synchro’s Alexa Tchekmarev claimed the gold medal with a mark of 78.105. Walnut Creek’s Alyson Haylor (77.987) followed with the silver medal while Santa Clara’s Emily Dillon (77.952) took home the bronze.

In the trio finals, Walnut Creek’s Emily Burkhart, Alyson Haylor and Kellie Stump topped the medal stand with a score of 77.578. New Canaan (77.191) and Santa Clara (76.034) followed respectively.

In the team event, Santa Clara reigned supreme with a 77.842 while Walnut Creek (77.645) and the Arizona Aqua Stars (77.130) followed.

In the finals of the duet event, Riverside’s Lauren Nicholson teamed up with Paige Ramsey (77.459) for a top finish. New Canaan’s Colleen Courtemanche and Maidson Crocker (77.033) finished in the second place position while Seattle Synchro’s Katie LaBounty and Liane Lovitt (76.764) took home third place.

LaBounty is a student at Thomas Jefferson High School and competed for the Raider girls swim team during her prep career. LaBounty also competed in the solo and team competitions during the Speedo Junior National Synchronized Swimming Championships.

LaBounty finished eighth in the solo competition and her Seattle Synchro team ended up seventh in the team event.

Top routines from last weekend’s Junior Nationals will advance to the 2009 U.S. National Championships, which will take place April 30-May 2, at Stanford University.

The Championships were hosted by the Pacific Northwest Association (PNA). PNA is made up by the Kitsap Water Blossoms, Olympia YMCA Synchro Club, Pacific Waves Synchro, Port Townsend Pirouettes, Seattle Cascades Synchro Club, Seattle Kaleidoscopes and the Seattle Synchronized Swim Team.