Steamboat Pilot & Today

With more than 400 swimmers in Canyon City for the Colorado State Seasonal Championships, it was difficult to get noticed.

But Steamboat Springs' swimmer Malia Fraioli discovered that the best way to make an impression at the meet was to cut down on the amount of time it takes to get across the pool.

Malia recorded personal-best times in three of the four events she swam in at the meet, which was held from Aug. 5 to 7 at the Scottie Aschermann Memorial pool.

She won the girls 8-and-under, 100-meter individual medley race, finishing with a time of 1 minute, 51.49 seconds. It was nearly 6 seconds better than her previous personal best.

That finish, combined with second-place finishes in the 25-meter butterfly and 50-meter freestyle events helped the Steamboat swimmer place second overall in her age division. Sorrel Paris, of Colorado Springs, won the top overall swimmer in the age division.

Malia finished the 25-meter butterfly in a personal-best time of 23.35 and the 50-meter freestyle in a time of 43.75, another personal best. She also was third in the 25-meter freestyle in a time of 20.01 and third in the 25-meter breaststroke in a time of 28.28. She scored 86 points in the meet.

The Colorado State Seasonal Championships are held each year and are limited to swimmers who don't compete with year-round programs. Malia, 9, and her younger sister Keala, 6, were the only swimmers from Steamboat Springs to compete in the event.

Keala competed in the 25-meter breaststroke, 25-meter freestyle and 50-meter freestyle. Her best finish came in the 25-meter breaststroke, in which she finished fourth in a time of 28.50.

Because the cut-off date for age classifications was May 15, Malia was able to swim in the younger age division. She will move up to the 9-10 age division next summer. Younger sister Keala was forced to swim against some competitors, including her sister, that were two years older than her.

Both swimmers are hoping to qualify for the meet again in 2006.

--To reach John F. Russell call 871-4209

or e-mail jrussell@steamboatpilot.com