By SCOTT PAKE

ECA Publicity

 

Washington’s Kevin Andrews and A.J. Howard, members of the Washington High School swim team and East Carolina Aquatics, joined 21 fellow Gators in competing at the Southern Zones Senior Long Course Championships, held Aug. 4-8 at the Westside Park & Aquatic Center in Greenville, S.C.

Competing against some of the best swimmers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana and Florida, the boys earned qualifying times to attend the meet in previous competitions. With dominant relay performances and top individual finishes, ECA’s men’s team finished the meet in second place, while the combined score landed the team in third overall. Andrews reached the podium and Howard had scoring swims for ECA as well.

Kevin Andrews placed second in the 50 backstroke with a time of 27.84. He also reached the podium placing third in the 100 backstroke in a 15-16 ECA team record time of 1:00.45. That was the fourth fastest overall 100 back time in team history.  Andrews scored in the 50- and 100-freestyle events, finishing 10th in both and clocking 25.06 and 54.91, respectively.

ECA’s Men also dominated the relay events, setting four team records. Andrews, was joined by Kelly Barnhill and Trey Pofahl of Greenville and Zach Darden of Goldsboro to win gold in the 200-freestyle relay with a time of 1:37.28, also winning gold in the 400-free relay with a time of 3:34.95, both of which were team records.

Andrews, Darden and Barnhill were joined by James Reindl of Cape Carteret to place fourth in the 200 medley in a team record time of 1:50.37. The same trio teamed up with Brent Hill of Greenville to clock a team record of 4:03.29 in the 400 medley, placing fourth overall. Andrews also participated in an 800-free relay that placed 16th with JD McCray of Beaufort, Zack Compton of Lucama and Caleb Odeke of Greenville.

Howard also had an outstanding meet. His best finish was 10th in the 50 fly with a time of 26.67. He finished 14th in the 100 fly, clocking 1:00.35 and was 22nd in the 100 free with a time of 56.89. Howard participated in a fourth place 200-free relay with Hill, Odeke, and Compton, notching a time of 1:40.68. The same quartet finished 11th in the 400-free Relay (3:46.06).

East Carolina Aquatics is a year-round swim team for youth and adults ages 4 and up, with over 450 swimmers in Greenville, Morehead City, Cape Carteret, and Washington locations.  For more information please visit www.swimeca.org.