All of the heats of the brick races were hotly contested. But mostly because it was really hot out. Above, the wobblier straight ahead technique.
In first, by a nose! Lifeguard brick races saw the staff push a brick with their noses. Here, Rich Harrington demonstrates the strategy.
Brick races required the swimmers to move from end of the pool to the other with a foam brick on their head. James LeMahieu was one of few to master the technique of swimming backwards with it on his forehead.
Competition was fierce, but the cheering was fiercer. Well, mostly. On the right side in the photo above, the Rollins Rays quietly root on their teammate. “We’re not the loudest team, we’re not the biggest team, but we try hard,” said coach Kyle Deland. The other squads flexed those vocal muscles with some good old fashioned yellin.’ The Superman Garrison team sported Superman capes and enthusiasm to match. “We are Superman Garrison because we’re super fun and super fast,” said coach Corinne Smith. Sportsmanship was the real name of the game, though. “No matter if we have a swimmer in the race, we cheer for everyone,” said Emily Reale, coach of the Kimball Krakens.
Ian Wagner keeps close watch on the times during a heat at the city swim meet Aug. 2. Six of the city’s pools were represented by five teams (Keach and Merill joined forces) for an Olympic-worthy morning.
