BOLLES SCHOOL UNLEASHES CARIBBEAN STARS

 

On November 19, 2005

 

Bolles High School unleashed their arsenal of Caribbean swim stars at the Florida State 1a Championships. Leading the way, yet again, was the Cayman Islands Shaune Fraser who started the Bolles demolition of the competition with a quick 1:36.33 (1:50.09) in the 200 yard freestyle, just missing the state and Bolles high school record of 1:35.81 (1:49.50) set by Clay Kirkland in 2000. {Kirkland later captured the gold medal in the 200 metre freestyle at the World University Games in 2001}. Fraser left in his wake teammate and junior Alexander Martin who clocked 1:41.38 (1:55.86) for runner up spot.

 

Up next was Jamaica’s Travis Forte also a senior who clocked a swift 21.88 (25.15) for fifth place in the 50 yard freestyle.  Unfortunately for Forte, his preliminary time of 21.59 (24.82) would have placed him second behind Don Sutton 111 who clocked 21.43 (24.63) for gold.

                       

Fraser was up again, this time in the 500 yard freestyle for gold and his appetite for gold was not yet satisfied as Joey Pedraza of Pine Crest was to learn. The race started off with Pedraza determined to put in a strong application for victory.  The splits at the 100 were

 

Shaune         50.52 (58.07); Joey             50.69 (58.26)

 

At 200 yards

 

Shaune         1:43.93 (1:59.46); Joey             1:44.43 (2:00.03)

 

But exactly at the halfway mark, Fraser increased his advantage to over a second and it was at this point that he decided to end all doubt about his victory and increased his advantage at every 100 yards of the race. When the clock stopped running the tale of the tape had Fraser first in 4:24.42 (3:59.29) and Pedraza second 4:27.85 (4:02.40).

 

Yet again Fraser missed another record this time it was the state record of 4:23.90 (3:58.82) by Matt Cetlinski in 1982. For the uninitiated Cetlinki was a member of the US 4 X 200 freestyle relay team that won gold in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and finished fourth in the 400 metre and 1500metre races at those Games .His US record in the 400 metres stood for over 12 years.

 

In the 200 yard freestyle relay Fraser and Forte would leave the event with no regrets or disappointments as they teamed with Bobby Guntoro and Alexander Martin to erase the state record of 1:24.63 (1:36.73) set by another Bolles team of Borges, Bahr, Linscheer and Kosugi

 

The team in relay order did

 

Fraser 20.73   (23.83)

Forte 21.14 (24.30)

 

Guntoro 21.29 (24.47)

 

Martin 21.09   (24.27)

 

To record a total time of 1:24.25 (1:36.29) more than 2 seconds ahead of Pine Crest.              The same combination worked again as they also the 400 freestyle in 3:05.48

 

 

Fraser      45.04    (51.77)

 

Forte        46.51    (53.46)

 

Guntoro   47.62     (53.74)

 

Martin    46.31      (53.23)

 

More than 3 seconds ahead of the second placed Pine Crest. A result that was never in doubt as Shaune established an early 2 second lead

 

In the female department Bolles has “contracted” the services of Bahamian star Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace. Arianna pushed hard all the way in the 50 yard freestyle to clock 24.34 (27.66) for  

fourth   place    . Her preliminary time of 24.27 (27.58) would have put her

among the medals. In the 200 freestyle relay she swam 24.09secnds to maintain a lead established by lead off leg Erica Totten  but the lead was not enough to with stand a rampaging Juliuanne Lago  of GPS 23.32 (26.50 ) who clipped Bolles anchor Caitlin Geary  to secure the win 1:37.02 (1:49.63) to 1:37.07  (1:49.68)

 

Anthony Morrison-Vincent