>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

CHENEY, Wash. — Swimmers from the La Grande Swim Club competed in their first Inland Empire championship meet earlier this month at Eastern Washington University.

In January the LGSC transferred its membership from Oregon Swimming to Inland Empire Swimming.

The 2008 Inland Empire “B” Championship Short meet at EWU featured 374 swimmers from Washington, Idaho and Oregon.

“This will prove to be a good move for our swimmers, giving them more opportunities to compete, and this meet is a great example of that,’’ said LGSC coach Susie Evans.

Aleasha McIntosh, Jack Burnell and Shelby Baker all earned “A” times at the meet, which means they can enter the upcoming “A” championship meet in Ellensburg, Wash.

McIntosh qualified in five events over the weekend in the 8-and-under girls group. She has seven A-qualified times. She cut more than 34 seconds from her six events, with a personal best time in each. She won the 8 & under girls High Point Trophy.

Jack Burnell, 10, added a third A-qualifying time to his list of achievements, bringing home two first-place finishes and five medals. 

While 10-and-under swimmers swam timed-finals each day, 11-and-over swimmers had to qualify in the mornings to compete in the finals each evening. Eleven-year-old Shelby Baker proved she was up to the task by making finals in five events, returning with six personal bests, five medals and two A-qualifying times.

Significant cuts in time were achieved by Victor McIntosh, Melia and Lara Insko and Brittany McNeil, Evans said.

8 & Under Girls

25 Freestyle — 26.92, Insko, Lara , 15th

50 Butterfly — 55.25, McIntosh, Aleasha A., 3rd, IES “A” qualification time; 1:14.12, Insko, Lara, 7th.

25 Breaststroke — 25.01, McIntosh, 2nd, “A” time; 38.56, Insko, 15th

50 Backstroke — 54.89, McIntosh, 3rd, “A” time

25 Backstroke — 24.30, McIntosh, 1st, “A” time

50 Breaststroke — 57.38, McIntosh, 1st, “A” time

25 Butterfly — 26.17, McIntosh, Aleasha A., 3rd

9-10 Girls

50 Freestyle — 37.52, McNeil, Brittany A., 10th; 41.44, Insko, Melia A., 27th

50 Breaststroke — 52.43, McNeil, 27th; 53.82, Insko, 31

50 Backstroke — 43.85, McNeil, 10th

50 Butterfly — 47.55, McNeil, 14th

100 Individual Medley — 1:39.00, McNeil, 13th     

9-10 Boys

50 Freestyle — 35.49, Burnell, Jack A., 4th

100 Butterfly — 1:51.52, Burnell, 1st

50 Breaststroke — 52.08, Burnell, 8th

100 Freestyle — 1:16.17, Burnell, 1st, “A” time

50 Butterfly — 49.31, Burnell, 6th

100 Individual Medley — 1:37.86, Burnell, 3rd

11-12 Girls

50 Freestyle — 30.29 (prelims), Baker, Shelby A., 1st; 29.71 (finals), Baker, 2nd

50 Breaststroke — 46.73, Baker, 23rd

200 Freestyle — 2:31.88 (prelims), Baker, 4th; 2:31.30 (finals), Baker, 5th

100 Freestyle — 1:08.18 (prelims), Baker, 3rd “A” time; 1:09.15 (finals), Baker, Shelby A., 3rd

50 Butterfly — 37.55 (prelims), Baker, 6th; 36.94 (finals), Baker, 4th

100 Individual Medley — 1:21.84 (prelims), Baker, 6th; 1:21.68 (finals), Baker, 6th

11-12 Boys

50 Freestyle — 35.60, McIntosh, Victor G., 12th

50 Breaststroke — 47.30, McIntosh, 10th

100 Freestyle — 1:17.76, McIntosh, 9th

100 Breaststroke — 1:42.08, McIntosh, 6th

100 Individual Medley — 1:37.36, McIntosh, 10th