Bronxville Boy Sets County Record In Backstroke

BRONXVILLE, N.Y. ? Patrick Conaton established a new best time in the boys 17-and-under 100-yard backstroke Thursday at Playland Pool in Rye, keeping the record at the Bronxville Field Club.

Conaton's time of 53.90 seconds eclipsed the old mark of 54.26 set in 2007 by friend and former Bronxville Field Club swimmer Jim Flannery, the team captain last year during his senior term at the University of North Carolina.

“When I hit the wall, I had no idea I set a record until I heard a loud cheer and the announcer say it was a new meet record,” the Bronxville 16-year-old said. “It feels good to keep the record in the family at Bronxville Field Club and to have Jim, who is a good friend, here to cheer me on.”

Conaton, who will be a junior in the fall at Fordham Prep, just missed Flannery’s former mark in his preliminary heat, going 54.56 seconds to earn the first seed.  

“I was looking to get a good feel for the water and the pool and see what I needed to work on for finals,” Conaton said. “And I wanted to set myself up in a good spot for the finals.”

Following the preliminary heat, Conaton realized he needed to make a correction on his flip turn.

“I missed the turn,” he said. “I had to stay under and allow myself to go longer.

“I definitely felt I had a strong push at the turn in the final. That gave me momentum and set me up to take it home on the second leg.”

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