Bryant, Speedos impress in Glenwood swim meet

GLENWOOD SPRINGS For a second-consecutive week, the Aspen Speedos picked up a third-place finish when they traveled to an invitational at the Glenwood Springs Recreation Center. The host Sopris Barracudas took first out of nine.Leading the way for Aspen was 9-year-old Hunter Bryant. He won eight of his nine events, broke eight pool records, scored a team-high 61 points and won the high point award for the 9- to 10-year-old boys. Bryants brother, Max (11-12 boys), Sam Richie (6-and-under boys) and Kelcie Gerson (11-12 girls) also picked up high point honors.Max Bryant and Gerson recorded new qualifying times for the state championship. Bryant finished the 200 individual medley in 2 minutes, 57.80 seconds, while Gerson posted a 5:58.67 in the 400 individual medley. The 11-12 girls medley relay team of Claire Collier, Leigh Sandbach, Gracy Kanan and Gerson also bettered their state-qualifying mark en route to a victory.Collier was one of four other Speedos swimmers 8-year-olds Bridger Gile and Ty Yocum and 16-year-old Kaitlin Gerson to win individual events.While we are one of the smaller teams on the Western Slope, we are one of the most competitive, Speedos head coach Mark Teichman said. What our team may lack in numbers we make up for in quality swims.Richie (five), Kelcie Gerson (four), Collier (three) each broke numerous pool records, while Max Bryant, Gile, Yocum and Julia Foran each broke one for Aspen. The Speedos head to Grand Junction this weekend for a four-day meet that will feature several teams from the Front Range.