Left: Gabrielle Williamson, left, Chase Leonardo, and Caden LaPlante. Right: 2024 YMCA National Long Course Swimming Championship held at Florida Aquatic Swimming and Training in Ocala, Florida. Matt Reed photo

Ocala, FL. — The Twin Cities Swim Team recently competed at the Y National Long Course Swimming Championship at Florida Aquatic Swimming and Training from July 30-Aug. 3.

Twin Cities Swim Team’s Caden LaPlante and Gabrielle Williamson had standout performances at the event, which included 694 swimmers representing 82 YMCAs from 18 states.

Both swimmers qualified for finals in their respective events and set new Maine state records.

LaPlante, 13, from Fairfield, established five state records: the 50-meter butterfly (26.77 seconds), 100 butterfly (1:01.33), 50 freestyle (26.75), 200 individual medley (2:30.91), and 50 backstroke (29.61). He finished 32nd in the 50-meter butterfly.

Williamson, 14, from Auburn also made history, set the Maine state record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 27.59, to finish 24th.

Chase Leonardo, 17, from Turner, another Twin Cities standout, narrowly missed the finals but still made a splash, placing 37th in the 50 breaststroke and breaking the team record he set last summer with a time of 31.22 seconds.