Bottom row L-R: Annie Larsen, Hannah Soltz, Top row L-R: Mary Allison Ashby, Hannah Grubbs Photo Robert Ashby

March and April were very successful months for the Orinda Aquatics Junior Group.

Established in 1995, Orinda Aquatics is a year-round USA Swimming program. The program is directed at all levels of swimming and dedicated to the maximum development of each swimmer, as both an athlete and an individual.

Swimmers ranging in age from 9 to 14 participated in four key meets, ending with the Junior Olympics (JO) Championship in San Ramon and the Far Western Championships in Morgan Hill. Thirty-eight swimmers posted over 300 lifetime best swims, eight Sectional Cuts, 11 new Pacific Reportable Times (PRT), 21 new Far Western times, 22 new Junior Olympic times and 20 new "A" times.

Mary Allison Ashby (12) placed first at the JO meet in the 50 back (27.87) and the 100 free (54.52) and fourth in the 50 fly (27.88)) and 500 free (5:18.71). She broke the Pacific Swimming Record in the 100 back with a time of 58.38. Her 50 and 100 back times now rank in the All Time Top 100 Times in USA Swimming for 11-12 girls. Mary aged up to thirteen for the Far Western Championship and placed eighth in the 50 free (24.97).

Hannah Grubbs (13) came in second in the 200 back (2:06.97) and seventh in the 400 IM (4:46.41) at the JO meet. Her 100 back (58.43) placed sixth at the Far Western Championship. Her 100 and 200 back are both new Sectional Times.

Talbot Jacobs (13) entered seven events at Junior Olympics and achieved best times in each one. He racked up four new PRTs, placing second in the 200 back (2:02.44), fourth in the 100 back (57.67), fifth in the 200 free (1:51.62) and sixth in the 500 free (5:00.05).

Alexa Hanley (12) placed fourth in the 50 breast (33.73) and fifth in the 50 fly (28.98) at Junior Olympics, achieved three new PRTs and qualified for Far Westerns in the 200 breast (2:42.27) and 400 IM (4:13.52).

Other Junior Olympic finalists included Annie Larsen (14), eighth in the 200 fly (2:14.98), Erin Schoenfeld (13), seventh in the 50 free (25.10), and Natalie Morlock (12) seventh in the 50 back (30.42) and eighth in the 200 back (2:22.32).

The 13-14 girls, Hannah Grubbs, Hannah Soltz, Annie Larsen, Mary Allison Ashby, Cassidy Fuller and Erin Schoenfeld, fielded three top eight finishing relays at the Far Western Championships. The 200 Medley Relay of Grubbs, Soltz, Fuller and Ashby finished fourth in a time of 1:54.05. Grubbs, Soltz, Larsen and Ashby placed fifth in the 400 Medley Relay swimming a 4:07.09. The team of Ashby, Schoenfeld, Grubbs and Fuller went 3:43.71 in the 400 Free Relay; good enough for seventh overall.