Friends, teammates tie at meet
Most athletes wouldn't be happy with a tie, but Elyssa Lines and Sydney Tunell were just fine.
The pair are used to swimming against each other as members of the 11-12-year-old Yuma Sandsharks girls team — and they are no strangers to friendly competition.
Lines and Tunell were neck-and -neck in one of the final and most competitive events of the day: the 100-yard individual medley. The swimmers both finished in a time of 1:14.53 to tie for first in the event at the Imperial Valley Summer League Championships at Valley Aquatic Center on Saturday.
“Most of the competition is with my friends so we're all just pushing each other to go faster and just pushing each other to reach our goals,” Lines said. “We're all really happy. I feel really great for the last meet of the season.”
Lines took first in the 50 freestyle, second in the 50 backstroke and third in both the 50 butterfly and 50 breaststroke.
Tunell took first in both the 50 butterfly and 50 backstroke, second in the 50 breaststroke and third in the 50 freestyle event. But the highlight of her day was reaching the finish line at the same time as Lines.
“I just went out there and had fun — that's what I like about swimming,” Tunell said. “We were both excited that we tied. It was a lot of fun.”
The Sandsharks were looking to avoid a three-peat by rival Brawley. But at the end of the day Yuma fell just shy of that goal despite good showings by both their boys and girls teams.
The competition was strong throughout the entire 11-12-year-old girls division but Sandsharks swimmer Kacey Wellard was able to finish first in her favorite race — the 50 breaststroke.
“It was really tough. We just came out and everyone is trying their hardest,” Wellard said. “It's (breaststoke) the easiest whereas all the other strokes are hard. You just kind of relax during it. In the other ones it's hard to move your arms and power through.”
Brianna Ochoa proved that hard work pays off in the 13-14-year-old girls division. She finished the day with first-place finishes in the 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke and 50 freestyle. Ochoa also took third in the 50 breaststroke.
“I was pretty confident that I was going to do well,” she said. “I've been practicing pretty well and I was looking forward to it. It did turn out pretty well.
“This is one of the first few meets that I've done after (swim) camp and my technique has improved. I was pretty confident that I was going to place high today.”
Ochoa's teammate Kylie Wellard also found success in the water, getting top-place finishes in all of her events. Kylie Wellard took first in the breaststroke and 100 IM, second in the 50 freestyle and 50 backstroke and third in the 50 butterfly.
Kylie Wellard said she felt a little overwhelmed by the number of competitors at Saturday's meet and it was a good experience for the upcoming prep season.
“All the people here today were really good,” Kylie Wellard said. “I'm sad the season is over, I really liked it. But I have school (Gila Ridge) now so I'm excited.”
TURNBERRY, Scotland (AP) — Bernard Langer shot a 4-under 66 Saturday for a one-stroke lead over Fred Couples heading into the final round of the Senior British Open.
Couples had seven birdies in a round of 64, while Peter Fowler finished with a 65 to trail the leader by two shots.
"I'm just happy to be in the hunt with 18 holes to play," said Langer, who won this title two years ago at Carnoustie. "There's a lot of guys in with a chance, so I know I'll have to shoot one of the lower scores to win."
Americans John Cook (66) and overnight leader Gary Hallberg (73) joined England's Barry Lane (66) at four shots back.
Couples had birdies at Nos. 1, 3 and 7, 8, 9. On the back nine, he had two birdies and dropped one shot at the 14th.
"It was a very, very good day," Couples said. "Once I got going, I didn't miss many shots. I hit my irons solid and when I hit them close, I made the putt."
Tom Watson (66) and Tom Lehman (73) were seven shots behind Langer.
On a day of low scoring despite strong wind and some showers, Langer and Couples each reached the turn in 30.
Langer birdied the first, fourth, sixth and ninth, eagled the long seventh and dropped a stroke at the fifth. He had nine straight 4s on the back nine, bogeying both the par 3s before a birdie on the long 17th.
