SWA's Drescher, Ramirez swim at Easterns
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South Western Aquatics swimmer Roxy Ramirez made her mark in the 13-year-old division.
Recently celebrating her 14th birthday, now she is aiming to make a splash with the 15-year-olds.
"My goal was to get to the Top 15," said Ramirez after competing in the 2014 Speedo Eastern Canadian Championships, Feb. 13-16, at Windsor's new 10-lane International Aquatic and Training Centre.
Just turned 14, Ramirez was swimming against girls in a 15-and-under division who were only weeks away from 16. Just under two years in age difference, she said, makes a big difference in the pool.
"I turned 14 one day before (Easterns). So it was pretty hard competing against – technically – 16-year-olds. I got tense... there were so many people. It seemed like some are two-times taller than you, some are so short and skinny – they're so different. And you don't really compete with those people because they're from teams far away, so you don't know what their strategies are, how they're going to swim. But I think that's a good thing. I was hoping to learn how to control that and not be afraid."
Her best effort came in the 400m free, a 16th place finish.
"I want to do better next time," she said, looking forward to a third Eastern Canadians. "And I want to make Senior Nationals – I'm hoping I can make it in two races, 800 and 1500. And possibly 400."
Cassandra Drescher, 15, won a gold medal at Easterns in 200m breaststroke, and was fifth in 200m IM taking three seconds off her preliminary swim time.
"Next weekend is provincials for 14-and-olders in London," said SWA coach Roman Ramirez, noting their swimmers will be Cassandra Drescher, Roxy Ramirez and Hailey Granger. "So with five at Festival, we have eight swimmers in (short course) provincials."
SWA results
Roxanna Ramirez, 14
65th 200 Free (2:16.22)
22nd 800 Free (9:28.68)
32nd 400 Free (4:37.77)
16th 1500 Free (18:16.09)
Cassandra Drescher, 15
42nd 200 Free, Prelim (2:11.89)
1st 200 Breast, Final (2:32.05)
2nd 200 Breast, Prelim (2:36.97)
55th 100 Free, Prelim (1:01.66)
11th 100 Breast, Final (1:13.30)
13th 100 Breast, Prelim (1:15.54)
13th 50 Breast, Final (34.17)
13th 50 Breast, Prelim (34.45)
38th 50 Free, Prelim (27.94)
5th 200 IM, Final (2:22.28)
9th 200 IM, Prelim (2:25.66)