Shu’s near-miss in the 400 IM
At the recent NJ Swimming LC Gold Championship, Harrison High School’s Scarlett Shu came within a narrow margin of victory in the 400 Meter Individual Medley. Her time of 5:12.61 earned her second place. She was just 0.35 seconds behind champion Sofia Kranaugh. Kranaugh is her teammate at Scarlet Aquatics and a sophomore at Pingry. Despite the close result, Shu took pride in competing against the best in the state. She entered several of her top events over the four-day competition. These included the 400 IM, the 200 Butterfly, and the 200 IM. She found the meet to be a crucial opportunity to test her abilities. 'I was racing all the competitive swimmers from New Jersey,' she said. 'I did pretty good.'
Initially, the slight loss in the 400 IM felt like a missed chance, but Shu quickly adjusted her mindset. She recognized that the event offered more than just a race against the clock — it was a chance to swim alongside strong teammates and improve her performance. Both she and Kranaugh, who is also a close friend, managed to lower their times in the finals compared to the morning preliminaries. For Shu, that shared progress was a silver lining to the near-miss. 'I was kind of disappointed at first,' she admitted. 'But I was also really happy that I was racing with my friends. (Sofia) and I both dropped times, and that was a win.'
Pereira adds state-level firepower
Emma Pereira, a rising sophomore at North Arlington High, proved to be a formidable force at the championships. She secured second in the 200 Backstroke with a time of 2:26.99. She placed third in the 200 Breaststroke with 2:47.30. Pereira finished fourth in both the 200 Freestyle and the 100 Butterfly. Her times were 2:10.58 and 1:04.89, respectively. Pereira also helped her club team, Scarlet Aquatics, earn third-place finishes. This happened in both the 400 Freestyle Relay and the 200 Medley Relay. These results showcased her versatility and team contribution.
Pereira’s success at the championships built on a strong spring season. At the NJ Swimming 11 & Over Gold Championships in March, she won individual titles in the 100 Butterfly. Her personal best was 55.24 seconds. She also took first in the 200 Butterfly. Pereira anchored the winning 200 Medley Relay team. Her summer training included a trip to the Speedo Sectionals in Westmont, Ill. Her recent performance at the state meet reinforced her growing stature in the state swimming scene. With her consistency and variety of strong events, Pereira is a rising star in New Jersey’s competitive swimming community.
Looking ahead: dryland and rest
With the summer meets behind her, Shu is now taking a short break before the club season starts again in the fall. She plans to focus on dryland training and strength work to increase her power and endurance. 'I want to catch up and see where I can be at.' Her approach reflects her determination to continue improving, especially with Sofia Kranaugh as a close competitor. Both athletes are preparing for another strong junior year, and Shu remains committed to pushing her limits. 'I was really happy in the final,' she said. 'I just want to keep getting better.'
The upcoming season promises to be another exciting chapter for both Shu and Pereira, who have already made their marks at the state level. With their talent, ambition, and focus on development, the young swimmers are setting the stage for even greater achievements in the coming months.
For more from the writer, visit Jason Bernstein’s profile and explore his extensive work covering local and state-level sports for The Observer.