Clinton will continue tradition with youth invitational
Sharks hosting ‘biggest youth swim meet’ in the U.S.
The city of Clinton and the Clinton Sharks will host the biggest youth swim meet in the United States this Saturday and Sunday (July 8-9).
The meet, the Clinton Invitational, has been held in town every year for nearly a half-century.
This year’s meet will feature athletes from 25 youth clubs.
“This is an annual event, and it was first hosted by the Flying Dolphins in 1974,” said Sharks Coach and Clinton City Aquatics Director Jonathan Leninsky.
“This year, we’ll have 25 teams and they’re all from within a 100-mile radius from (the University of Tennessee).”
It will be Clinton’s fourth competition of the summer season.
The Sharks are a year-round swim club.
This year’s Clinton team features boys and girls ages 7-17.
The Sharks were last in action Thursday night as they hosted a tri-meet against Oak Ridge City Aquatics and the Newport/Cocke County Rapids.
Leninsky said he was pleased with his squad’s performance last week.
“It was a fun and fast-paced meet with many of our Clinton swimmers dropping their times by one second or more,” Leninsky said.
The Clinton Invitational opens Saturday morning with action beginning just after 8 a.m.
“This is the biggest outdoor meet in the U.S., and the first event will hit the pool at about 8:05 and the last one will hit the pool around 5:45,” Leninsky said.
“Then, on Sunday, it will be all day and will probably be only about one hour shorter than Saturday.
“It will be a long weekend but we’re really excited,” he said.
The coach noted that some Clinton swimmers will be competing in some different events than usual.
“We’re excited and we look forward to having some of our athletes compete in some different events,” Leninsky said.
“They’re going to test their mettle and swim in some new events.
“Last year, we were League 5 champions. They changed the leagues this year and we’re in League 6.
“We’re really looking forward to this and we’re excited,” Leninsky said.
