Tupelo hosts record-breaking USA Southern Zone Senior Championship Meet

Jul. 30—The USA Swimming Southern Zone Senior Championship Meet made waves at the Tupelo Aquatic Center this week as 24 meet records were broken and one swimmer became eligible for 2024 olympic trials in Indianapolis.

Drew Johnson, of Kentucky Aquatics, posted a time of 22.59 seconds in the 50M Freestyle to make the olympic trial cut. Standard qualifying for that mark is 22.79 seconds.

The Top 3 Team finishers from the event were:

1. Katy Aquatics (Katy, TX) — 2,310.5 points

2. First Colony Swim Team (Missouri, TX) — 2,145.5 points

3. Kentucky Aquatics (Lexington, KY) — 1,923 points

Tupelo swimmer shines in North Carolina

Willa Martin, from Tupelo-based Shockwave Aquatics, placed 2nd in the 400M Freestyle with a time of 4:43.55 at the USA Swimming Southern Zone Age Group Championships in Cary, North Carolina, this week.

Perhaps most impressive is that Martin reached that mark by dropping 4.18 seconds off her previous best time in the 400M Freestyle.

For more information about classes, programs and upcoming events at the Tupelo Aquatic Center visit swimtupelo.com.

John Luke is the Digital Director for the Daily Journal. You can reach him at john.mccord@djournal.com.