Chesapeake to hold swim meet at OCCC
LANDA MCCLURE
Staff Writer
staffwriter2@occc.edu
Between 400 and 500 professional and amateur swimmers will participate in the Chesapeake Swim Club’s 18th Annual Chesapeake Elite Pro–Am Swim Meet on campus Thursday, Dec. 17, through Sunday, Dec. 20, said Aquatic and Safety Training Specialist James Hensley.
“Some of the amateur swimmers will be competing to qualify for the 2012 Olympics,” Hensley said. “The professional swimmers have already competed in previous Olympics.”
He said swimmers will come from across the U.S. and some competitors are from the Oklahoma City area.
Hensley said some of the swimmers will compete in groups and some will compete individually.
Paul Thompson, swim meet director, said the Chesapeake swim meet is one of the biggest meets around.
“It is one of very few USA swim meets where professional athletes swim with amateur swimmers,” Thompson said.
He said the first swim races will be Thursday night and preliminary rounds will be held Friday through Sunday morning.
“The top 24 swimmers in each category will compete in the evenings, Friday through Sunday for finals,” Thompson said.
Hensley said the professional athletes will be awarded cash prizes.
“First-place winners will receive $600, second-place swimmers will receive $300 and third-place winners will receive $100,” Hensley said.
Awards will be given to the fastest amateur individuals and groups.
“Many of the swimmers are also trying to receive a high point so they can move up a level and qualify for another meet,” he said.
Hensley said a few of the races include the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle and 1000-meter freestyle.
Hensley said one reason the college is chosen to host the Chesapeake meet is because its swimming pool is known to produce good speeds for the swimmers.
“The pool is a fast pool because of the gutters,” Hensley said. “When a swimmer turns, the water will go into the gutters instead of splashing back into the pool.”
Oklahoma hospitality also may factor in, he said.
“The staff works well with the host club and I’d like to think the good hospitality from the city is why OCCC hosts the swim meet,” he said.
The Aquatic Center will close for the event at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 16 and reopen at at 6 a.m., Monday, Dec. 21.
For more information, contact the Aquatic Center at 405-682-7860.
