The Palisades-Malibu YMCA swim team seems to be rounding into top form at just the right time. The girls placed second and the boys third during last weekend’s Crescenta Canada Invitational meet at the El Monte Aquatic Center, giving head coach Kameron Kennedy good reason for optimism. ‘This was the same venue where our championship meet will be held at the end of this month,’ Kennedy said. ‘I was very pleased with our results. Over half of our swimmers posted their best times. It is very rare to have this many best times at this part of the short course season. We are doing the most yardage ever and the kids continue to shave off seconds in each race.’ Paly’s girls got off to a fast start when its 11-and-12-year-old 200 Freestyle Relay team, consisting of Lila Lewenstein, Mara Silka, Georgia Johnson and Olivia Kirkpatrick, took first place. Paly’s 13-14 Freestyle Relay foursome of Alex Edel, Jennifer and Kimberly Tartavull and Allison Merz not only won but bettered its time by half a second. In the 13-and-over 200 Medley Relay, Paly’s Jessica Schem, Jennifer Tartavull, Edel and Merz won in 2:05.14. Mardell Ramirez took first place in the 25 Butterfly and was runner-up in the 50 Freestyle. Eleven-year-old Catherine Wang won the 100 Breaststroke in a stellar 1:22.57 and placed third in the 200 Individual Medley in 2:38.02. Wang also swam the third leg of Paly’s 200 Medley Relay, which took first place with a time of 2:19.40. Rachel Jaffe swam the first leg, followed by Kirkpatrick, Wang and Lewenstein. ‘All of the kids did and excellent job,’ Kennedy said. ‘They are coming to practice serious about their training and it is showing in the pool. I hope they realize how talented they all are and continue to go after everything in this life that they want. After all, anything is possible.’ The Paly boys squad was led by 14-year-old Ben Lewenstein, who achieved personal bests in every race he swam. ‘Ben is a very hard worker and deserves all the credit,’ Kennedy said. ‘I help construct the boat, but he’s gotta row it.’ Eight-year-old Kenny Saab placed eighth or better in all of his races. The 10-and-under 200 Freestyle Relay, consisting of Nick Edel, Alexander Landau, Nick Green and Tristan Marsh, took second place. Danny Fujinaka swam second in the 13-14 division of both the 200 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly. Hunter Loncar enjoyed an outstanding meet, finishing first at his level in the 6-and-under division in three events: the 25 Backstroke, 25 Butterfly and 50 Freestyle. ‘This was a great meet but Y champs will be the encore performance to this short course season,’ Kennedy said. ‘There will be a Paly swimmer in almost every final heat. The only reason we won’t be in a final heat would be because we don’t have enough depth in that particular age group.’ Palisades will compete in the annual Y Champs Meet at the same location February 25-26.
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