Forty GPAC swimmers made quick work of the season-opening Sprint With the BEST meet in Biloxi, rewriting twelve meet records, posting several new Southeastern cuts and taking the team title.

“This meet has proven to be a great way to reacquaint the swimmers with long course racing,” said Head Coach Phil Kraus.  “It’s fun for the swimmers to set meet records and walk away with a team victory to which they all contributed.”

Seven GPAC swimmers of all ages combined to set twelve new meet records.  Coulson Barfield, 13, edged the boys’ 50m freestyle record.  Sophia Diagne, 14, set a meet record in the 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly.  James Henderson, 12, set records in the 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle.  Twins Renee and William Henderson, 10, each set a new meet record in the 50m breaststroke and 100m freestyle.  Renee also set a new record in the 50m free.  Jacquie Kinman, 16, reset the meet record in the girls’ 100m breaststroke and Olivia Weekley, 16, nabbed the girls’ 100m butterfly meet record.

Several swimmers took advantage of the early season meet to post new Southeastern qualifying times.  Congratulations to the following swimmers who qualified at the meet:  Alex Atherton, 10 (50 Br, 50 Fly), Coulson Barfield, 13 (50 Fr), Grace Matthews, 12 (50 Fly), Noah Scoggins, 9(50 Fr, 50 Bk, 50 Fly), Taitem Turbyfill, 10 (50 Br), and Charles Warren, 12 (100 Fr).

In the group that traveled to Biloxi for the meet, there were many swimmers who competed in a long course race for their first time: Camden Archbell, 10, Parker Brandt 12, Robbie Clements, 15, Sydney Dodson, 9, Scott Griffith, 14, Ryan Harrison, 12,Austin Lee, 13, Rachel Lee, 11, Anna Marks, 10, Jack Menzies, 11, Alex Morris, 17, Mackenzie O’Keefe, 5, Kathryn Turner, 9, and Charles Warren.

All done, GPAC swimmers amassed 85 % best times and accounted for 19 event wins.  James and Renee Henderson, along with Sophia Diagne won all four of their individual events.  GPAC swimmers who won events were Coulson Barfield, William Henderson, Jacquie Kinman, and Olivia Weekley.

Congratulations to all the swimmers who posted life-best times in all their events: Camden Archbell, Alex Atherton, Coulson Barfield, Braden Barkley, Parker Brandt, Robbie Clements, Lexi DeJesus, Sydney Dodson, Scott Griffith, Ryan Harrison, James Henderson, Renee Henderson, Sam Laggan, Austin Lee, Rachel Lee, Sara Lypko, Anna Marks, Grace Matthews, Jack Menzies, Tatiana Oberley, Mackenzie O’Keefe, Nicholas Petruska, Noah Scoggins, Seth Scoggins, James Tracey, Taitem Turbyfill, Kathryn Turner, Cameron Walton, andCharles Warren.

GPAC will travel back to Mississippi in a week to compete in this seasons’ first full-weekend meet in Laurel.