Russell-Cheung leads Raiders past Criminals

Andrew Russell-Cheung finished 14 seconds faster than his closest competitor and that was in the race his coach doesn’t consider his strongest event.

Russell-Cheung took first place in the 100-yard freestyle, clocking a time of 51.49 seconds for the Raider boys in the dual meet win against Yuma High, 131-44. Cibola’s girls also defeated Yuma, 100-68.

“(Andrew) is swimming well, he’s a very talented swimmer and he just seems to be improving week-to-week,” Cibola coach Richard McClure said. “The 50 and 100 free aren’t what I’d consider his specialty but he’s a very versatile swimmer.”

Even Yuma High coach Alan Anderson was impressed by Russell-Cheung’s performance.  “His 50 free was OK, but his 100 free was exceptional,” Anderson said. “He’s primarily a breastroker, but he could probably push (Kofa swimmer Jonathan) Duran in the free.”

Russell-Cheung won the 50 free with a time of 23.52 and was on the boys 200 medley relay team that took first place with a time of 1:56.07.

“I feel really good today,” Russell-Cheung said. “I dropped time today in both the 50 and the 100. I’m proud of that. (Our relay team) didn’t go as fast as we usually do, but we were able to still get first.”

On the girls’ side Jesse Kaba took first in the 50 free for the Raiders with a time of 28.4 seconds.

Ashton Hobbs led the Criminals picking up first place in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard butterfly with times of 2:31.47 and 1:08.71 respectively.

“(The butterfly) was her best time and it’s something we’ve been working on and something she’s been working on,” Anderson said. “Her best time coming into this was a 1:10.”

Yuma High’s Alejandra Hernandez took first in the 200 free, clocking a 2:28.6 and Leah Donaldson finished first in the 100 free with a time of 1:08.98

“That was (Donaldson’s) best flat start time, she’s doing a terrific job,” Anderson said. “She’s a kid I’ve never worked with before and I’ve been very pleased with how she’s responded to the work.”

Yuma High finished first in 10-of-24 events during the dual meet, but Cibola’s advantage in numbers helped the Raiders to the easy victory. The Raiders have more than 70 swimmers and divers on their team, Yuma High has a team of 25. It’s an equation, McClure said, that continuously stacks up in Cibola’s favor.

“Every meet there’s four races going on,” McClure said. “You have your No. 1 swimmers swimming against each other, your No. 2 swimmers swimming against each other, your No. 3 and your No. 4. What really wins swim meets is if your No. 3 swimmer is as good as their No. 2 swimmer. Going two, three, four is as effective as going one, five.”