[6/2/03]Aside from lower than usual numbers, the River City Classic enjoyed three days of successful competition over the weekend.

Perfect weather and a strong showing from the host Vicksburg squad made for an exciting meet, Classic organizer Steve English said.

“The weather was great,” English said. “We had a lot of fun.”

The Vicksburg Swim Association’s Coke Racers placed fifth out of seven teams in the competition.

Mississippi Makos won the meet with 956.5 points, followed by the Sunkist Swim team with 801, the Indian Aquatic Club with 661, the Delta Aquatic Club with 561, Vicksburg with 396.5, the Meridian Swim Association with 172 and Crawfish Aquatics with 17.

About 200 swimmers competed in the event, English said, roughly half the number from two years ago.

Vicksburg had 37 top-eight finishers in individual events, including nine that finished in the top three.

“We had a succesful meet for individuals,” English said.

Alan Ebersole, who will be joining the Princeton swimming team in the fall, turned in a first-place finish in the 100-meter breaststroke, a second-place finish in the 200-meter freestyle and a second-place finish in the 50-meter freestyle.

Ebersole, who attended St. Aloysius, competed in the senior boys division.

Alan’s brother Bern also competed in the senior boys division and placed second in two events, the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke.

Both Ebersoles teamed with Allen Karel and Jake Fischenich to claim second place in the senior boys 400-meter relay.

For the senior girls, Elena English claimed third in the 200-meter backstroke.

The meet concluded at 3 p.m. on Sunday, and the Vicksburg swimmers were back in the water at 6 this morning.

Several meets remain this summer, leading up to the state championships at the end of July.

English said Vicksburg will try to host the B Championships, which is for qualifying swimmers who don’t make the state championships.

English and other organizers are also meeting this week to plan for next year’s River City Classic.

“We’ll sit down and think of what we can do better,” he said.