Ayden Tan Adds Three Nation-Leading Times At Southwestern Age Group Regional Champs

2023 Southwestern Age Group Regional Championship

• March 23-26, 2023
• Folsom, California
• SCY (25 yards)
• Full Results

The Sierra Marlins Swim Team hosted the Southwestern Age Group Regional Championships last month in Folsom, California. The meet attracted over 600 athletes from nine different states in the Western region.

DART Swimming dominated the team standings with 1151 points overall, topping the Sierra Marlins in 2nd by over 400 points. Flying Fish Arizona Swim Team (FAST) grabbed 3rd overall, but was 2nd in the girls’ meet.

Combined Team Scores:

1. DART Swimming – 1151
2. Sierra Marlins Swim Team – 735.5
3. Flying Fish Arizona Swim Team – 540.5
4. Front Range Barracudas Swim Club – 529
5. Tualatin HIlls Swim Club – 518

DART Swimming was led by National Age Group record-holder Ayden Tan, who won all seven of his individual events in the boy’s 10 and under age group. Highlighting his victories were his best time performances in the 50 backstroke (27.11), 100 breaststroke (1:10.23), and 50 fly (27.23), where he posted the fastest times in the country this season for 9-10 boys. Those swims additionally marked new Sierra Nevada records for his age group.

Tan also set a personal best in the 50 freestyle of 25.00, ranking him 4th this season. Rounding out his victories was the 100 free (55.25), 200 free (1:58.59), and 100 backstroke (58.91), where he was slightly off his personal bests. 

Gabriel Cruz from Charger Aquatics also won seven individual events. Cruz, 11, logged personal best times in the 100 (55.15) and 200 freestyle (2:01.68), as well as in the 100 backstroke (1:00.82) and 100 fly (1:00.20). His 100 backstroke time ranks 7th among 11-year-old boys this season, while his 100 fly comes in at 9th.

11-year-old Lauren Lonsdale from California Gold captured six wins of her own, clocking personal best times in six of seven events. Lonsdale dropped nearly two seconds in the 200 freestyle to record a 2:00.58 in finals, ranking her 7th among 11-year-old girls this season. In addition, Lonsdale dropped almost two seconds in the 100 free to post a 55.01, ranking her 6th this year.

Lonsdale also swam best times in the 100 backstroke (1:02.99), 200 backstroke (2:15.95), 50 free (25.80), and 100 butterfly (1:04.61).

Mikayla Tan had a fantastic meet, winning six of her seven individual events for 13-year-olds. Her only best time of the meet came in the 500, where she dropped over nine seconds from her entry time to post a 5:02.03 in finals. 

Lizzy Johnson and Kai Painter each won six events in their respective age groups. Johnson, a 13-year-old from DART Swimming, set personal best times in five of her races. Highlighting her weekend was the 100 freestyle, where she dropped just under half a second to post a 52.51. 

Painter, a 12-year-old from North Coast Aquatics, set best times in five of races also. He notches a personal best in the 100 freestyle by over two seconds, clocking a 51.07 in finals. He also dropped over five seconds in the 200 free to touch first at 1:53.98.

Another standout swimmer was Daniel Corkery from South Bay Aquatics. The nine-year-old won the 50 breaststroke in a best time of 35.25, ranking him 4th this season for his age. He was also runner-up in the 500 free (5:53.26) and 100 breaststroke (1:18.33), coming in at 5th and 6th this season, respectively.