Streaking toward the wall in the 100-meter freestyle, Ryan Cutrone knew that the only thing standing between him and a subminute swim was a quality finish.
Moments later, with stunning precision and timing, the Cortez Leopard Sharks star jammed his hand into the wall to record a time of 59.80, which was good enough for first place.
Cutrone also finished first in the 200-meter individual medley (2:31.55), 50-meter freestyle (28.06), 200-meter freestyle (2:18.40) and 100-meter breaststroke (1:16.41) at the Durango Summer Invite, which was held in Durango on June 17-18.
Also delivering a standout performance in Durango was Mesa Verde Aquatics Club member Tessa Jackson, who competed in the girls 7-8 age division and finished first in the 25-meter freestyle (22.54), 25-meter breaststroke (29.98), 100-meter backstroke (2:09.50) and 50-meter backstroke (26.46).
Cortez Leopard Sharks member Victoria Duran competed in the girls 13-14 age division and finished first in the 200-meter individual medley (2:49.67), 200-meter freestyle (2:23.82), 100-meter breaststroke (1:33.21) and 100-meter backstroke (1:18.63).
Mesa Verde Aquatics Club member Trent Bagge finished first in the 100-meter freestyle (1:03.69), 200-meter individual medley (2:49.41) and 50-meter freestyle (27.93) in the boys 13-14 age division, while Cortez Leopard Shark representative Caisey Duran won the 200-meter breaststroke (3:10.22), 100-meter breaststroke (1:28.95) and 100-meter backstroke (1:18.63) in the girls 15-and-over age division.
Other local swimmers who won three individual events included Mesa Verde Aquatics Club team members Anna Lawrence, who competed in the girls 11-12 age division and won the 100-meter butterfly (1:39.86), 100-meter individual medley (1:30.78) and 50-meter butterfly (37.33), and Erin Lawrence, who competed in the girls 9-10 age division and won the 100-meter breaststroke (1:56.32), 100-meter individual medley (1:40.57) and 50-meter breaststroke (53.65).
Swimming for the Leopard Sharks, Lynda LaPaz finished first in the girls 15-and-over division of the 400-meter freestyle (6:09.09) and 800-meter freestyle (12:45.16), Bailey Duran finished first in the girls 15-and-over division of the 200-meter freestyle (2:27.48), Tyler Cutrone finished first in the boys 15-and-over division 100-meter breaststroke (1:12.38), Cole Gropp finished first in the boys 13-14 division of the 800-meter freestyle (12:09.12), Nathan Gaddis finished first in the boys 7-8 division of the 25-meter breaststroke (32.75), and Delta Suckla finished first in the girls 11-12 division of the 50-meter breaststroke (46.24).
Swimming for the Mesa Verde Aquatics Club, Caroline Podgornoff finished first in the girls 11-12 division of the 200-meter individual medley (3:07.02), Jared Michael Gripp won the boys 9-10 division of the 100-meter butterfly (2:39.92), and Sawyer Muhonen finished first in the boys 8-and-under division of the 100-meter breaststroke (2:36.33).
In the team standings, the Cortez Leopard Sharks finished second overall with 429 points, and Mesa Verde Aquatics Club finished third with 398 points. Durango Swim Club finished first in the eight-team meet with 844 points.
