The Vernon Kokanee Swim Club performed well in two B.C. championship swim meets, the B.C. AA Championships in Kamloops and the B.C. AAA Championships in Victoria.
“Performing well at your respective championship meet is a top goal for all of the swimmers and I think we did a really good job doing just that.
“I was impressed with the team focus at the meets and we came away with several new qualifiers and many new personal best swims,” said head coach Steven Vander Meulen.
At the AA Championships, the Kokanees had 20 swimmers and came home with 72 new personal best times.
Outstanding races came from Jenna Heffner who won gold in 50 backstroke with a time of 36.94 and silver in 200 IM with 3:01.85.
Heffner came off her AA Championship meet to race in Victoria and improved her time in three races, including a five-second drop in 100 back.
Blake Davidson dropped 17 seconds in 200 IM, 13 seconds in 200 backstroke, and six seconds in 400 freestyle. Ryan Murphy qualified for four finals and dropped six seconds in 200 free and four seconds in 200 backstroke.
Samantha Shortt swam in three finals, dropping 14 seconds in 200 breast and improved her times in six of seven events.
Matthew Winn raced in two finals and dropped four seconds in 400 free. Robert Yacovelli also swam in two finals and came away with four personal bests.
Eight swimmers participated at the AAA Championships. Meredith Levorson swam to a new senior national qualifying time in 400 free with 4:27.39 and placed fourth in the finals. Levorson raced in eight finals and came away with six personal bests.
Kelsey Fillion finished second in 100 free long with 1:00.10 and 50 free. In 400 free, Fillion dropped 5.7 seconds and made a new age group championship qualifying time with a 4:47.63.
Outstanding personal swims came from Jonathan Heffner, Tate Priebe and Liam Williamson. Williamson made an age group championship time in the 200 back. Priebe raced in three finals which included a three-second drop in 100 free. Jonathan Heffner raced four finals and dropped 16 seconds in 400 free.
Sophie Lepage improved her times with four personal bests including a five-second drop in 200 back. Alexandra Shortt improved in three races and placed 12th and 10th in 50 and 100 breast, dropping 1.1 seconds in 100 breast.