Dolphins duo enjoy home success (From Bournemouth Echo)

Dolphins duo enjoy home success

6:00pm Wednesday 15th April 2009 in Search By Roger Guttridge

JAY Olenicz and Lottie McRae scored a trophy double for the host club as hundreds of swimmers converged on Littledown for the Bournemouth Dolphins Level Two Open Meet.

The 13-year-olds won the best male and best female age group awards, based on Bagcats points.

Northampton won the other overall trophies for the top club and the fastest male and female swims by Ben Green and Emma Herd.

Jay Olenicz’s results included a winning 28.41sec in the 13yrs 50m backstroke, which makes him the fastest British 13-year-old of all time and only the second to go under 29 seconds.

Liam Tancock, who last year broke the world record for the 50m backstroke, had a best time of 29.81 when he was 13 in 1999.

Olenicz also won the 13yrs 200m backstroke by 12 seconds in 2:12.45 and the 200m individual medley (2:21.31) and took silver in the 200m freestyle (2:06.78).

McRae – 14 next Monday – dominated her age group with five gold and three silver medals in the 13yrs events plus a bronze in the women’s 400m medley (5:09.67).

Her times included a 4.5sec PB of 2:26.30 in the 13yrs 200m medley, which also booked her ticket to the National Youth Championships in July.

She also led a Dolphins one-two-three in the 100m butterfly in 1:08.60 from team-mates Tess Carter (1:10.42) and Courtney Rowan (1:12.40). Carter and Rowan also recorded national times in the 200m butterfly and 100m freestyle respectively.

In her other events, McRae took gold in the 13yrs 50 and 200m backstroke and 200m butterfly and silver in the 50m butterfly, 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle.

She believes her form vindicates her decision to join Bournemouth Dolphins from Plymouth Leander in October.

“I did massive PBs in all but two events and I’m confident I will get some more national times before July,” she said.

McRae first swam under Dolphins coach Graham Bassi in Lincoln but after he left for Bournemouth, she accepted a scholarship at Plymouth.

“That didn’t work out but since coming here she is fitter, has lost weight and is enjoying it again,” said her dad, Alistair, whose family are hoping to move to Bournemouth once they sell their house in Lincolnshire.

Ferndown Otters’ Todd Price and Seagulls’ Peter Griffiths dominated the 12yrs boys’ events.

Price had the upper hand with seven wins from seven swims – in the 100 and 200m backstroke, 100 and 200m freestyle, 100 and 200m butterfly and 200m medley.

Griffiths had silver linings in abundance, finishing second to Price six times.

Dolphins’ Tom Kingham also struck gold seven times in the 10yrs age group, winning the 50 and 100m freestyle, 100 and 200m backstroke, 100 and 200m medley and 100m breaststroke.

Ferndown’s Alan Wong was a five-times winner, claiming gold in the 11yrs 100 and 200m backstroke and butterfly and the 200m medley.

Bournemouth’s Andrew Botros’s ten medals included gold in the 10yrs 50m backstroke, 100 and 200m butterfly and 200m freestyle.

Team-mates James Holmes and Ryan McCormack won three golds each in the 11yrs category.

Poole’s Declan Callahan was second to Olenicz in the overall Bagcats table after taking gold in the 14yrs 50m freestyle and 200m butterfly and silver in the 100m fly.