CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Last week it was the 49-year-old Public Courts tennis tournament creating a stir in Kanawha City.
Beginning Wednesday at the University of Charleston pool taking center stage will be the 50-year-old Tyler Mountain Water Company Greater Kanawha Valley Summer Swimming League Championships.
The event is known simply as the City Swim Meet, although the 17 teams represented are from as far away as Raleigh County.
Running through Saturday, the four-day event has seen an instant boost in participation from a seemingly minor age division adjustment.
For the first time the 17 to 18 age group has been changed to 17 and over.
With about 740 entries that means that almost 80 more swimmers will be taking part in the 2008 City Meet than last year.
"The 17-18 age group was never full or complete," event director Greg Olson said. "We probably have close to 75 competing now and I'd say that is quadrupled."
Olson mentioned the names of Gus Hamrick, Steve Biron, Trip Shumate and Susie Salisbury as adult swimmers entered.
"One of the reasons I did it," said Olson, "was the pools and clubs hire college kids to work in the summer as coaches and lifeguards and they couldn't swim in the meet."
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Last week it was the 49-year-old Public Courts tennis tournament creating a stir in Kanawha City.
Beginning Wednesday at the University of Charleston pool taking center stage will be the 50-year-old Tyler Mountain Water Company Greater Kanawha Valley Summer Swimming League Championships.
The event is known simply as the City Swim Meet, although the 17 teams represented are from as far away as Raleigh County.
Running through Saturday, the four-day event has seen an instant boost in participation from a seemingly minor age division adjustment.
For the first time the 17 to 18 age group has been changed to 17 and over.
With about 740 entries that means that almost 80 more swimmers will be taking part in the 2008 City Meet than last year.
"The 17-18 age group was never full or complete," event director Greg Olson said. "We probably have close to 75 competing now and I'd say that is quadrupled."
Olson mentioned the names of Gus Hamrick, Steve Biron, Trip Shumate and Susie Salisbury as adult swimmers entered.
"One of the reasons I did it," said Olson, "was the pools and clubs hire college kids to work in the summer as coaches and lifeguards and they couldn't swim in the meet."
He said at least one pool added two nights a week of practice for adults.
"Getting more people interested in swimming is what it is all about," Olson said. "It's great for their fitness too."
Once again, 20-time defending champion Cross Lanes will be the heavy favorite, bringing a meet-record 197 swimmers. Sleepy Hollow is next in numbers with 107 followed by South Hills with 92, and St. Albans with 70.
A total of 17 teams will be participating.
Preliminary qualifying heats will be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with all of the finals taking place Saturday.
Wednesday features the 9-10, 15-16, and 17 and over age groups. Thursday the smaller kids in the 6 and under and 7-8 age groups swim off and on Friday the 11-12 and 13-14 groups swim.
Warm-ups begin at 4:15 p.m. on each of those days with competition starting at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday warm-ups start at 8 a.m. and the actual meet begins at 9:10 a.m.
