The final all-level summer swim meet was held in Nanaimo last weekend with only the top three swimmers in each division qualifying for Provincials.
Needless to say the atmosphere was electric as every swimmer raced to attain a podium finish. Best times were had by all local swimmers, which was a perfect finish to an incredible season. The Blue Devils had 18 attend the Regional’s with 13 qualifying for Provincials, to be held in Coquitlam this weekend.
Results (PQT - Provincial Qualifying Time, PB - Personal Best time):
Div. 1 Nikolas Strilets made finals in 50 back, 2 PB; Ava Webb 1st 50 breast PB.
Div. 2 Abby McDowell 1st 50 free with a PQT, 2nd 100 free, 4th 100 IM, 6th 50 fly, 4 PB; Mathew Strilets 3rd 50 fly, 5th 100 free, 7th 100 IM and 4 PB.
Div. 3 Jaide Blasco made B final in 50 free/back PB; Lauren Basco made B finals in 100 free,
Div. 4 Zoe McDougall 1st 100 back, 2nd 200 IM, 50/100 free 4 PB; Myia Dunn 7th 100 back, 2 PB; Samuel Helpard 1st 100 back, 2nd 50/100 free 3rd 200 IM, 4 PB; Douglas Lightfoot 7th 100 free and PB.
Div. 5 Megan Rousseau 1st and PQT in 200 IM and 100 back, 2nd 100 breast/free with a PQT and breaking three club records in 100 back, 100 free and 200 IM all PB times; Amelia Helpard 4th 100 free, 5th 50 free/100 back, 6th 50 fly, 2 PB; Kyla deWitt 7th 100 breast, 8th 50 fly and PB; Sydney Kuhnert 6th 100 breast, 3 PB; Caleb Clarke 4th 100 free, 5th 100 back, 50 fly, 6th 50 free 3 PB.
Div. 6 Emma Rudolph 6th 50 free, PB; Jenna Kuhnert 6th 100 fly,
Ben Helpard 3 PB making B finals in all swims.
In relays the Div. 3 girls 200 free relay team of Ave Webb , Isabella Anderson, Jaide and Lauren Blasco put on a great race but were not on the podium this time. The Div. 4 boys 200 medley with Samuel Helpard, Douglas Lightfoot, Mathew and Nikolas Strilets came in second.
The Div. 5 girls 200 free relay of Zoe McDougall, Myia Dunn, Kyla deWitt and Sydney Kuhnert also came in 2nd while the Div. 6 girls came in golden with Jenna Kuhnert, Emma Rudolph, Amelia Helpard and Megan Rousseau.
Good luck to all the Provincial qualifiers and many thanks to parents, coaches and swimmers for another successful summer swimming year.
– Blue Devils Summer Swim Club