It was a personal best galore for members of Vernon’s Kokanee Swim Club (VKSC) over the April 13-14 weekend.
The VKSC fielded 55 swimmers, and achieved 259 best times.
Three swimmers, Dean Goldie, Kaeden Uesson and Max Helm qualified for the 2024 B.C. Open Water Championships, hosted by Simon Fraser Aquatics. This years competition will be held at White Pine Beach at Sasamat Lake in Port Moody, on June 14.
Brea Duncan swam to a new Women’s Canadian para short course record in the 1500 m freestyle S6 sport class with a personal best swim. Senna Entner also swam to a personal best, breaking the new Women’s Canadian para short course record in the 1500 m freestyle S7 sport class.
Cadel Simms and Aurora Hamilton claimed new divisional time standards this weekend, qualifying for the summer divisional championships, hosted by the VKSC from June 21-23.
Other personal best times by VKSC swimmers included: Rowan Brett, Al Chen, Janssen Erikson, Ethan Henry, Brooklynn Jardine, Ruslan Knutsen, Joelle Martin, Heidi Plummer, Chloe Ruessmann, Noah Mulligan, and Cadel Simms.
VKSC also hosted a Jamboree swim meet for newer swimmers, where 39 people took part. Mac Poulin achieved a sub four minute 200 m individual medley time, while first time swimmers in the Jamboree included Bradley Chen, Liam Descouens, Ben Kette, and Alice Martin.
The Kokanees also hosted a very exciting 50 m freestyle dash for cash. The top four age group swimmers compete in a 50 m freestyle and the fourth place person is eliminated. Then, another 50 m freestyle race is done, until the top two battle for $50.
Taking first place for the 11 and under girls category was Avalon Ellis. Second place for the 12-13 girls category was Hera Serzan, while Julia Russell won gold in the 14-15 girls category and second place went to Danika Buse in the 16 and over group. Kubrick Reed took second place in the boys 14-15 category, and Ruslan Knutsen placed first in the 16 and over boys category.
The following week, VKSC attended a one-day meet in Kamloops on April 20, where 25 swimmers attended, and 54 new best times were set. Kaeden Uesson became a new provincial qualifier in the 50 m breaststroke, while Kubrick Reed broke a club record in the same race, with a time of 33.87 seconds. This was his third time breaking the club record in the event, adding to his club record in the 200 m breaststroke he broke at the Western Canadian Championships on March 21-24.
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