Regionals bring results
Different strokes for different swimmers.
The island regional short course championships are a competition that’s always coveted by Duncan Stingrays’ swimmers at all levels.
“For our younger ones, this was their highest level of competition and the older ones, this competition served as a stepping stone for their preparations going into provincials and Western Canadian championships,’’ noted Stingrays’ head coach Leanne Sirup.
A total of 19 Stingrays attended the latest event in Comox.
“Our senior swimmers displayed great strength and discipline as they are in the midst of a heavy block of training. Despite their obvious fatigue, they all stepped forward in each of their races,’’ Sirup pointed out. “Many were quite surprised by their results and their drops in time fueled further excitement.’’
Fourteen of the 19 placed in the top eight on the island for their respective categories.
Six swimmers achieved 100 % personal best times plus any new challenges or races. The group included: Ava Smith, 10; Kealey Scott, 10; Desirae Ridenour, 13; Malia Prystupa, 10; Oliver Castle, 11; and Zeara Broadway, 12.
Smith added the 50-metre backstroke and 100 breast as new races while Castle challenged himself as a first-timer in the 800 free and 400 I.M. Scott (100 fly), Ridenour (1,500 free) and Broadway (100 back) also did new races.
In the ranks of those one event short of personal best perfection were: Tess VanNieuwkerk, 10; Montana Prystupa, 13; James Ogihara-Kertz, 13; Megan Lewis, 12; Jeremy Kissack, 13; Lalaine Gower, 13; Olin Dahlstrom, 9; and Jessica Castle, 10.
The 100 fly and 200 I.M. were new races for Dahlstrom. VanNieuwkerk (100 back), Ogihara-Kertz (800 free) and Lewis (200 I.M.) ventured into new race territory.
Savanah VanNieuwkerk, 13, Rosie Lee, 15, and Laura Kissack, 15, achieved personal bests in all but two races. Haakon Koyote, 15, had two personal bests and Natalia Garriock, 16, managed two seasonal bests.
Gower achieved her first 14-year-old provincial AA qualifying times in the 100 breast and 100 free. Jeremy Kissack attained his first 13-year-old provincial AA qualifying times in the 100 back and 200 back.
Two Duncan Swim Team records were broken by Malia Prystupa. She surpassed the 10 and under female 200 back mark with a swim of 2:54.66 and the 100 free standard she set of 1:12.37 narrowly edged her coach’s (nee Wilkinson) record dating back to 1986.
Oliver Castle finished in the top two in all six of his races while Malia Prystupa managed two gold and two silver.
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