(Competition Saturday in the GRPA state swim meet in Tifton was called off after a weather delay that began at 2 p.m.)

TIFTON – Things were a little bit nicer in south Georgia Friday when the younger age swimmers hit the Baldwin Drive facility for their turn in the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association championship meet.

The Moultrie Sharks had seven swimmers swim in the preliminary events, and all qualified for the finals. That’s six individual finals and two relays.

Chloe Tillman was the only swimmer who returned from last season, and she finished third in the girls 9-10 25-yard butterfly with a time of 16.69 seconds. She was second in prelims with a 16.51, bettering her district time of 17.08.

Six 8 year olds competed well in their first state finals, said coach Link Whittaker.

Lanna Bell and Henry Tillman swam each in four state finals events. Bell took second in the girls 50 free with 36.75 seconds and sixth in the 25 butterfly swimming a 21.90.

Tillman placed sixth in boys 25 backstroke with a 23.90 and eighth in 25 free at 18.63.

Henry’s brother Hayden dropped time in both prelims and finals finishing seventh in the boys 50 free with a 44.90 after qualifying at 48.82.

Mateo Quintero took 10th in boys 25 butterfly with a personal best 27.25.

Arlin Smith also bested her 25 freestyle time finishing 11th with a 20.70.

The mixed medley relay of Quintero, Gillie Morgan, Bell and Henry Tillman was fourth place at 1:37.06 after knocking off over five seconds from their qualifying time.

And lastly, the 100 free mixed relay team of Quintero, Arlin Smith, Bell and Tillman placed second with a 1:21.67.

“It was a great day for these young Sharks,” said Whittaker. “I was especially pleased with the performance of the relays. Relays build a reliance on each other and team unity. It’s fun to watch them get after it together.”