Zacarias Becomes Second-Ever Husky to Reach State Swim Championships

by Cerwin D Haynes

The East Los Angeles College Swim Stadium is regionally - and even nationally - renowned for its pool. Swim associations up and down the national spectrum enjoy booking the venue because the pool allows for fast swim times.

The ELAC Swimming & Diving program, in contrast, has not historically been renowned. In fact, 3C2A officials remark that it's been a long time since a Huskies' swimmer has qualified for the State Championship.

That streak was broken today: sophomore swimmer Camila Zacarias became only the second-ever ELAC swimmer to reach State, swimming today in the Women's 200Y Fly.

Zacarias, the butterfly specialist, started the season off strong: at the El Camino Invitational back on February 3, she placed first in the 50m, 100m and 200m Butterfly events. She nabbed second place in both the 100Y and 200Y Butterfly in the Long Beach Tri-Dual on March 1. And at the South Coast Conference Championships last month, she finished third in the 100Y Fly and second in the 200Y Fly with a time of 2:28.06. It was that time that earned her a spot in today's State Championships.

Zacarias beat her SCC Championships time today by a little over two seconds, clocking in at 2.25.95. She'll swim one more time this afternoon in the consolation bracket of the 200Y Fly Final.