Top teams battle for swim titles

— Scott Berry isn’t afraid of a little competition.

Berry, the coach of the Razorback Aquatic Club, is looking forward to the Arkansas long course swim championships, which begin today at the University of Arkansas’ HPER pool. The RAC will host the event, the second of two annual meets the state swim clubs hold.

In the state short course meet in the spring, the RAC finished second to the Little Rock Dolphin-Lasers. Short course refers to meets with a 25-yard pool, while long course races use the 50-yard pool.

The Dolphin-Lasers are contenders to win the long course title, along with Berry’s team, the Northwest Arkansas Aquatics of Bentonville and a club team based in Springfield, Mo.

“We’re hoping we might have a little home-pool advantage,” Berry said. “It’s afriendly rivalry with [the Dolphin-Lasers]. They’re a really good team. They push us to be better, and we do the same for them.”

An unique aspect of the state meet is there will be several club teams from southwest Missouri competing, including a solid team from Springfield. Berry said Missouri teams were invited because the meet is closer to them than their regular meets.

“We don’t want some team from Missouri winning the Arkansas state meet, so we have to step it up,” Berry said. “It’s good to have strong teams because you want to step it up.”

The meet will be divided into four age groups for boys and girls: 10-and-under, 11-12,13-14 and 15-18. Berry said RAC should have an advantage in several age groups, including the boys’ 11-12 and 15-18.

“It’s a great event for us,” Berry said. “All the top swimmers from across Arkansas, it will be the one meet when all the teams will be there. There are really good swimmers in every age group.”

There are 22 events in each division and there will be preliminary races in the morning, followed by final events in the evening. Berry said that format makes the swimmers be on top of their game in order to score.

“It’s really important to get the job done in the morning,” Berry said. “That’s when you put yourself in scoring position. Then in the finals you have to swim even faster.”

Arkansas Swim Championships

WHEN Today through Sunday WHERE HPER, University of Arkansas WHAT Long course (50-yard pool) events WHO Swim clubs from Arkansas and southwest Missouri AGES Boys and girls, 8-18 ADMISSION Free SCHEDULE Events begin today at 4 p.m. Saturday’s preliminaries start at 8:30 a.m. and finals begin at 5 p.m. Sunday’s preliminaries start at 8:30 a.m. and finals begin at 4 p.m.

Sports, Pages 23 on 07/30/2010

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