| 12/11/2005 |
| Area swimmers make waves with record breaking days |
| By: Eric Barton , Courier Staff |
A late arrival turned into a blessing in disguise for Sean LeNeave on
Friday. The Conroe High School swimmer arrived 25 minutes late to the
Klein Collins Boys Invitational swim meet and broke four pool records
in the process, even without warming up in a cold pool. "I knew I had good shots at them," LeNeave said. "Usually I
have the luxuries to prepare and warm up, but this time I didn't. I was
surprised with how I did."LeNeave's surprise ended up being pool-breaking records in the 200 IM, 100 fly, individual 50 meter freestyle, and individual 100 meter freestyle races. LeNeave dominated the 200IM, a swim where contestants have to swim 50 meters in the butterfly stroke, breast stroke, freestyle stroke, and back stroke, with a 1 minute 57.33 second time that was previously held by a 2 minute .72 second time. LeNeave also turned heads with his record setting 52.79 second 100 meter butterfly stroke time, his 21.83 second individual 50 meter freestyle time, and his individual 47.33 second 100 meter time. Conroe's head coach Steve Montgomery said LeNeave's times were a rare thing to see or even hear about. "I've never seen this happen before, and I've been coaching for 35 years," Montgomery said. "I've never seen anyone see a goal like that and achieve it. It was a great accomplishment." LeNeave, who has been swimming year-round for nine years, said he tries to prepare mentally before every race, no matter how he gets to warm up. "I feel like I was prepared mentally," LeNeave said. "I usually sit in a deep focus and visualize each of my meets and keep running through them in my head." All preparations aside, coach Montgomery was just pleased to see him make his goal. "That's what this [coaching] is all about, to see a student look at a goal and achieve it. It's just wonderful," Montgomery said. The four times at Klein Collins weren't the only records LeNeave has recently broken. As a member of The Woodlands Swim Team, LeNeave shared a record breaking weekend with two teammates at the Senior Gulf Championship last weekend at Texas A&M University. LeNeave set a meet record with a four minute .80 second time in the 400 meter I.M., Kelly Flynn set a meet record in the 100 meter breaststroke with a one minute 4.36 second time, and Gabrielle Maddalena broke two records, one for a nine minute 57.15 second time in the 1,000 meter freestyle race, and the other for a 16 minute 31.98 second time in the 1,650 meter Freestyle. Although TWST took home second place with a 1174 point total, the team's accomplishments didn't go unnoticed. The Gulf Championship attracted various teams from Texas, Colorado and Florida. In other area swim team action, New Caney High School won both the Girls and Boys divisions as a team at their invitational swim meet on Friday. Willis High School placed second, and Caney Creek placed third. Willis' AquaKats started the event strong with exciting wins in the 200 meter Medley Relay. The Girls Team of Eden Pearce, Beth Goodlander, Shara Hoffmann and Paige Oliver came from behind to nip Caney Creek for the win. WHS's Boys Team of Robert Boland, Taylor Wood, Jonathon Mitchell and Aaron Cooper won a close race as well. First Place finishes were turned in by Willis' Shara Hoffmann in the 100 Butterfly, Robert Boland in the 500 Free, and Paige Oliver in the 100 meter Backstroke. Eric Barton can be reached at ebarton@mail.hcnonline.net.
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