Freshman swimmer Alex Crisera breaks 3 school records

Ava Van’t Hof

Staff Writer

    Mira Costa freshman swimmer Alex Crisera broke the school record for the 100 meter freestyle, 100 meter backstroke, and 500 meter freestyle which had not been broken for 35 years.

    Crisera is on Costa’s varsity swim team, and lead the team to a win in the South Bay Invitational meet by placing first in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 57:11 seconds.

    “We have a really strong team this year and there are another group of girls that are capable of beating my records as well,” Crisera said. “I was very excited to break the record, but it was just by chance that I broke the record before them.”

    At a dual meet against West Torrance High School on March 17th, Crisera broke the record for the 500 meter freestyle and the 100 meter freestyle. With a time of 5:01:45 minutes, Crisera was the first Costa swimmer in 35 years to break the 500 meter freestyle record. Crisera beat the 100 meter freestyle record with a time of 51.79 seconds.

    “When I broke the record I was very excited,” Crisera said. “I was not expecting to get that time so early in the season, and it’s so cool because the record has been standing for such a long period of time.”

    Crisera started swimming when she was six years old, but she didn’t start competing until she was eight years old. Crisera competes in many competitions, including South Bay Invitational and local duel meets.

    “I don’t think there is one race that stands out as her greatest accomplishment,” mother Kimberly Crisera said. “I think the fact that she continues to set high goals and works hard to achieve them is what I am most proud of.”

    Aside from Costa swim, Crisera is on a club swim team called Beach Cities Swimming. Between school and club, Crisera goes to nine practices a week, which include four morning practices at 5:30 am, five night practices, as well as three strength training sessions.

    “The sky’s the limit for Alex really,” Coach Monique Shelton said. “She is approaching the National level of swimming at a very young age and will have a long and exciting career.”