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RYE, N.Y. Twelve-year-old swimmers Nico Ferrera and Steven Amato swam a tight race in the 50-yard freestyle event at the Westchester County Swim Conference Championships on Thursday.
But ultimately, Ferrera was fast enough to touch the wall first and win the final heat of the event. The Ardsley Country Club swimmer finished with a time of 25.35 seconds while Amato, who swims for Wykagyl Country Club, finished at 25.83.
I was doing really well. I felt really good, Ferrera said. And then I saw the people behind me and I really started to pick it up and do well. And eventually I won. Not by a lot, but I still won.
Amato swam a close race but had to make up ground after a poor start, which ultimately cost him.
I had a nice, strong turn, but I kind of slipped off the block when I went in to do the start, so that slowed me down, Amato said.
Amato and Ferrera swam against each other in the qualifying race for the event earlier in the week. Ferrera said the intensity levels between the two days were much different.
And he succeeded in both races.
Its different because the atmosphere [here] is a lot different because its for finals and to win, Ferrera said. The atmosphere [at qualifying] is just to make finals but the atmosphere here is to win everything.
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