The Campbell River Killer Whales were busy competing at three different meets across the country last weekend.
Conner Skuse and Mackenzie Padington attended a National team camp in Saskatoon that had a meet on the Saturday afternoon.
Skuse and Padington were among the top swimmers chosen by Swim BC to go and compete against Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Team BC won the meet in large part to the two wins by Padington and Skuse’s silver medal in the 800 Free.
A group of 11-13 year-olds competed in Langley, racing in a heats and finals event.
Twenty swimmers ranging from veterans of the club, to some who were racing in their first long course meet, were in Nanaimo for the first long course meet of the season.
Overall, it was a great weekend for Campbell River swimmers to kick off the Long Course season.
Ten of the Killer Whales’ top 13 and under swimmers travelled with Coach Sarah to the LOSC LC Invitational, a heats and finals meet attended by clubs from across the Lower Mainland and two Island teams. The swimmers swam beyond any of the coaches’ expectations, lowering their personal bests from last season by huge amounts of time, as well as showing huge improvement from the first part of the season.
Highlights included Jasmine Skuse achieving her third Age Group National Qualifying time in the 1500 Freestyle, qualifying her for the AGN Championships coming up at the end of the season. She also placed top eight in all of her eight races, making finals in the 12 and under category as an 11 year-old. Jamiliya Wellard achieved her second AGN Qualifying time in the 50 Butterfly. It was a great race that motivated the team throughout the rest of the weekend. Wellard also placed top eight in all her races, qualifying her for the finals everytime she got in the pool. Emmy Stapff also had a breakout weekend as the youngest of the Killer Whales at the competition. Emmy achieved two of her 13 and under AA times, qualifying her for the AA Provincial Championships at the end of the season. Other great races came from Cole Reid in the 100 and 200 backstroke, Maya Ruehlen in the 200 and 400 IM, Kasey Lathangue in the 800 freestyle, and Jocelyn Diemer in the 100 freestyle.
The swimmers in Nanaimo had a fantastic weekend of racing, highlighted by the swims of some of the youngest swimmers in the Killer Whales. Maura Dybwad, Regan Moreau, Emilie Diemer and Yana Jacobs all swam their first long course competition ever, rising to the challenge and racing well. Carson Dunn also had a great day of racing, lowering his times in all of his three races, and swimming with a lot of confidence.
Kara Beauregard was a shining star in the 100 and 200 backstroke, as well as the 100 freestyle and 200 IM. From some of our older Killer Whales, Sasha Jacobs had one of her best meets of the year, showing huge improvement from the short course season to the beginning of the long course season.
Amy Johnston also showed huge improvements.
Next up for the Killer Whales is the PCS Wavemaker on April 25-27 which is a highlight meet for the club during the long course season.