City Meet makes a splash at Concord Community Pool this weekend
CONCORD, CA (July 27, 2024) — The 57th Concord Swimming Championships returned to Concord Community Pool this weekend. 10 teams and 1,108 recreation swimmers started the competition on Friday thanks to a strong effort from several local swim teams who pulled together after long-time hosts Springwood Swim Team did not field a team this year.
Springwood parent Brienne Hertzfeldt stepped up to be the meet director after both Springwood and Vista Diablo Dolphins announced they are not having teams this year. Those two Concord teams date back to the beginning of the meet in 1967 when Concord Community Pool opened.
With Springwood Swim Team no longer managing the administrative duties Hertzfeldt had to reach out to the other local clubs to take on added responsibilities. First off was finding a site as the desire was to return to Concord Community after the last three city meets were held at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek.
There were a number of issues around finalizing the rental contract with the City of Concord, primarily concerning insurance. Rick Spardaro of Walnut Country Swim Team and Neal Meyer of Dana Hills worked with city staff and finally got a policy with coverage and language acceptable to the city so that the meet could go on as planned July 26-28 in its home in the beginning years of the meet and then since 1996 until scheduling conflicts and the pandemic stopped it from being held in Concord this decade.
10 swim clubs compete
Pleasant Hill Dolfins, Walnut Country, Gehringer Park, Dana Hills and Oakhurst of Clayton, Forest Park, Ygnacio Wood, Bishop Estates are returning teams along with newcomers Martinez Community Swim Team and Solar Swim Sea Monsters of Antioch complete the 10 clubs taking part.
DHST will be seeking its 31st Concord City Meet championship since the Otters won its first A Division title in 1992. Gehringer Park hopes to repeat as B Division winners. The Gators also won the coveted 2023 team sportsmanship award.
The City Meet schedule began with the individual medley and 50 freestyle for the 15-18 age group on Friday evening. Butterfly, freestyle and medley relays continued on Saturday. The meet concludes Sunday with breaststroke, backstroke and free relay. Admission is free.
The season-ending Contra Costa County meet is the weekend after City Meet Aug. 2-3 at Acalanes High in Lafayette.
Dana Hills has won the last three Division I County Meet championships in highly contested battles with runner-up Rancho San Miguel of Walnut Creek. The two teams have finished 1-2 three times in a row.