HI Gators! Here is an important email regarding some changes to the JRAC Champs meet this summer. We know it may be helpful to you as you are making plans this summer. 

 

Hello JRAC families,

We wanted to let everybody know about a major change to JRAC Champs for this summer’s season.  Our long time Champs partner NOVA is unable to host the meet this year, so we have been busy identifying other options.  After an extensive search process by the JRAC champs committee and discussion with the JRAC board, team representatives, and coaches,  we are excited to announce that the 2017 JRAC Championships meet will be held at the SwimRVA facility, home to the state-of-the-art Collegiate School Aquatics Center. This pool is also home to the club swim team, Poseidon Swimming.

 

SwimRVA (formerly known as the Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership or GRAP) is a beautiful facility featuring a 50 meter competition pool with a moveable bulkhead that allows the pool to be configured into two separate 25 meter courses.  There is a separate warm up pool, as well as bleachers for approximately 750- 900 spectators.  The main pool was originally built for the 2008 US Olympic Trials, and 9 world records were set in its lanes before it was disassembled and moved to Richmond. 

 

This change of venue is coming with some other significant changes that we wanted to make everybody aware of:

 

·         The meet will be conducted in just one day, rather than taking place over two consecutive days as it has in the past.  (SwimRVA is already booked for every other day during that week and weekend)

·        The  new date for the 2017 Champs is WEDNESDAY JULY 26.  

 

·        In order to complete the competition in one day, we will set the pool up in the two separate 25 meter pools configuration, and have events going on simultaneously in each pool.  Girls events will be held in one pool and boys will compete in the other.  This is a configuration that SwimRVA uses frequently when hosting large state and regional-level competitions, and it works very well. 

·        To make it easy to follow the action, the large scoreboard will show the names of all swimmers competing.  The left side of the scoreboard will show the swimmers competing in the pool to the left.  The right side of the scoreboard will do the same for events on that side of the facility. 

·        During relays (which are co-ed events), competition will occur in only one pool.

·        All parking will be located on site – so no more bus rides from satellite parking lots.

 

Other than that, other major elements of Champs will be consistent with years past.  We will have the same order of events.  Each team will still have a designated tent to congregate in during the meet.  And finally, we will have a clerk of course where the swimmers from each event will stage before continuing on to their event. 

 

We are excited about the opportunity to hold the 2017 Champs meet at this great facility and we are committed to making this a successful event and a great experience for all of our swimmers, volunteers, and spectators.  We recognize that a move of this magnitude is a big change, and we encourage you to reach out to your JRAC representatives or us directly with any questions or concerns.   Following the event, we will work with all of our stakeholders on an evaluation and a plan for the future.       

 

Thanks, and we look forward to a great swim season and an exciting champs meet!