RAC Swimmers Bornstein, Maguire and Smith head to US Opens and US Junior Nationals being held in Minneapolis in August
Omaha, Nebraska – Once every four years, on the biggest stage most of the swimmers competing at the Olympic Trials will ever see, less than 15% of male swimmers and 11% of female swimmers achieve best times. Ridgefield Aquatic Club Head Coach Emmanuel Lanzo and the 3 swimmers of RAC set out to prove that statistic wrong and indeed they did.
On day 4 of trials, AJ Bornstein, who was seeded 88th in a field of 99 swimmers, dropped 1.13 seconds going 2.17.14 in the 200 Breaststroke, won his heat and finished 32nd overall. Bornstein was extremely pleased with his swim and how he managed the energy of the meet. His strategy was to build the race and not let his adrenalin overtake his strategy. Bornstein’s time places him 4th in the country for 16-year-old boys in this event.
On day 6 of trials, Marcie Maguire, who was seeded 115th in a field of 137 swimmers, dropped .72 seconds going 2.15.53 in the 200 Backstroke, won her heat and finished 49th overall. Maguire was thrilled with her time drop and felt the experience from swimming the 100 Backstroke on day 2 of the trials helped her to better manage her nerves. Maguire finished 123rd out of 157 swimmers in the 100 Backstroke. Maguire’s time in the 200 Backstroke places her 16th in the country for 16-year-old girls in this event.
Coach Lanzo was extremely pleased with the kid’s performances and how they held up under the pressure of the meet. "Thanks to all of our RAC parents, swimmers and teammates that cheered from a distance and to our assistant coaches who all helped push these three swimmers day in and day out. Is a great success for all of RAC". Bornstein, Maguire and Smith head to US Opens and US Junior Nationals being held in Minneapolis in August and look forward to using this experience to inspire their performances.
Ridgefield Aquatic Club is located in Ridgefield, CT. RACswimming.org