East Hampton Relay Third In Suffolk County

After earning a state-qualifying time at the league championships last weekend, East Hampton’s 200-yard freestyle relay did it again.

Jack Duryea, Aidan Forst, Fernando Menjura, and Owen McCormac raced to a third-place state-qualifying finish with their 1 minute, 29.97 seconds swim at the Suffolk County championships at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood February 8. The quartet and Colin Harrison will travel to the Nassau County Aquatic Center March 6 and 7 to compete in the state championship meet.

“After the league meet, they went back to work to continue to train their racing skills, techniques, and speed endurance,” head coach Craig Brierley said. “The boys were very focused and motivated to do their best, and the coaches were thrilled with the efforts the boys put in for each of their races.”

The 200 medley relay of Duryea, Menjura, McCormac, and Joey Badilla also finished fourth in the county in 1:40.89, and McCormac touched the wall fifth in the 50 freestyle in 22.42 seconds.

The Bonackers finished sixth out of 22 schools, and were largely helped by Menjura, who was named the swimmer of the meet. The Pierson junior tied for eighth in the 50 freestyle (22.86), seventh in the 100 freestyle (50.37), and ninth in the 400 freestyle relay with Forst, Will Midson, and Edward Hoff. He contributed 22 individual points and had a hand in 62 relay points.

“Fernando had a fantastic competition going best times in three of his events. All season, Fernando has been a positive asset to the team. He has a quiet leadership style where, in the water, he continually pushes himself in every length, and out of the water, Fernando is always ready to support his teammates,” Brierley said. “Due to an illness, Fernando was asked to fill a role on the medley relay team and handle the butterfly duties of that event. Going a personal-best time, he dropped over one second in his 50 that helped the foursome go a season-best time.”

Badilla also placed seventh in the 100 backstroke (56.15) and 11th in the 200 individual medley (2:08.88). His younger brother Nicky finished 15th in the 200 individual medley (2:12.73) and 24th in the 100 butterfly (59.30). McCormac also came in 12th in the 100 freestyle (51.29), and Duryea also placed 12th in the 50 freestyle (23.40) and 15th in the 100 backstroke (1:06.11). Forst finished 17th in the 200 freestyle (1:56.31) and 23rd in the 100 freestyle (54.99).

desiree@indyeastend.com