The Collegian

Issue date: 5/6/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Karyn Gilbert

K.C Drake blew everyone away with his impressive swimming abilities at the Bay Valley Conference championships, hosted by Delta, April 28-30.

Drake broke the 200-yard individual medley as he swam to the finish in record time, at 1:57.3, shattering the 11-year record by nearly two seconds (1:59.28), Thursday, April 28. This made Drake the top-seeded swimmer in the 200 IM.

"The top seed is really nice, but I feel better hitting the record," said Drake.

Drake also opened up the record books, beating his 12-day-old record in the 400-yard individual medley. Drake cut off about nine seconds of his old record, with a time of 4:10.21, again snagging him the top seed.

"It felt really good the first time I broke the record, but it was even better the second time I broke the record because I beat my last record by almost nine seconds," said Drake.

Not only was Drake breaking records in his solo appearances, he was making them with teammates as well. Thomas Dietrich, Mike Iles, Andy Brooks and Drake tossed out a 17-year school record as they swam the 800-free-relay in 7:18.68, the previous record was 7:19.57. The relay team finished fourth under Solano, Diablo Valley, and Sierra.

"It was our relay teams goal going into the race to try and break the record," said Drake, "so we weren't shocked when we did break it."

"You can coach 'til the cows come home, but the athletes make things happen," said coach Larry Huiras.

But the season doesn't stop there for Drake and the Mustangs, as some of Drake's teammates qualified for the California community college swimming and diving state championships, May 5-7 at Diablo Valley College.

The women who qualified for the state meet are Christine Setness, who will compete in the 100-yard individual medley and the 50 and 100-yard butterfly, and Erin Pritchard, who qualified in the 200-yard individual medley and will also swim the 50 and 100-yard breaststroke.

For the men, Drake will take part in the 200- and 400-yard individual medley races and the 100-yard breaststroke. Drake will also take part in the 400- and 800-yard freestyle relay with Brooks, Dietrich, and Iles. Drake, Iles, Brian McLean, Derrick Davis, and Dietrich will compete for the title in the 200-yard freestyle relay.

Robert Wimberly will compete at the championships for the Mustangs in the 1 and 3-meter diving part of the competition.

For the rest of the Delta swim team, the season is over, but the team still accomplished a wonderful season, as the men's team went undefeated at 8-0 and the women going 4-4.

"Swimming is a fun sport, a sport were everything is mental," explained Lady Mustangs swimmer Lisa Kreeft. "You always have to think positive and do your best, I will be back next year."

"Swimming is a great exercise, it doesn't strain your muscles and you can get a great tan," added Kimberlee Craig.

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