From STAFF REPORTS

AUBURN – The Americus Blue Tide broke team records, recorded individual wins, and achieved new time standards at Auburn University the second weekend of January at the 11th Annual Ralph Crocker Classic.
Taylor Bacon, of Americus, and a Blue Tide standout, recorded a personal-best performance in the senior girls’ 100-yard butterfly by almost six seconds, a startling improvement if you don’t consider what her coaches call ‘her tremendous work ethic.’ Bacon parlayed her daily discipline into personal bests in six out of her seven events.
Alison Bell swam a new Blue Tide-team record in the 11-12 year-old girls’ 500-yard freestyle (5:40.41) and rewrote her own record from last month in the 100-yard fly (1:05.80). Tisa Evans swam a new personal best in the 11-12 year-old 100-yard breaststroke by over five seconds, and then continued to record personal bests in her remaining five events. Marianna DeTitta improved her 11-12 year-old girls’ 200 IM time by over five seconds, and recorded a personal best in six out of seven events.
Taylor Humphrey swam personal bests in all of her events, beating her 100-yard backstroke time by over six seconds, and also swam bests in her remaining events.
Antony DeMott won the ‘A’ final in both the 13-14 year-old boys’ 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle events. Daniel Iordanov was a finalist in the 13-14 boys’ 200-yard fly event, where he took fourth place in the ‘B’ final. Iordanov also recorded three new ‘A’ times during the meet in the 13-14 boys 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, and the 100-yard fly. Cole Parksinson broke his previous 50-yard freestyle best time by over four seconds. Jordan Brown recorded personal best times in the 11-12 year-old boys’ 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly.
The squad was given excellent support, aiding team members in achieving several personal-best performances. These personal records were set by Ada Ruth Larson, Kelli Hill, Lanna Bell, Lynnsey Bell, Alex Collins, Emma Elliot, Madison Keen, and Landry Liston.
The Blue Tide offers a free week of training for interested swimmers at the Georgia Southwestern State University pool on Monday through Thursday between 4:00-5:00 p.m., and at the Albany State College pool from 5:00-6:00 p.m. You can also visit www.georgiabluetide.com or call (229) 924-3863 for more information.