This past weekend four swimmers from the Comox Valley Aquatic Club attended the Swim BC "AA" Championships in Surrey. Amelia Elder, Josh Dolman, Ethan Ashley and Michael Jung made the trip with big expectations. They did not disappoint.
Amelia swam 100 per cent on her way to earning three gold medals, one each in the 100, 200, and 400 freestyle. In finals Amelia was often leading her competitors by up to a half a length!
Josh, swimming in the very tough 15 and over category, was usually facing much senior swimmers. He finalled in the 50 free and in the 100 fly but it was in the 100 back swim-off that he took centre stage and won in convincing fashion.
Ethan also swam 100 per cent best times. He seemed to get better as the weekend progressed. On the first night he won bronze in the 100 free, then a silver in the 400 free. On the final night he won the 200 free - beating his closest competitor by more than five metres!
Michael swam 100 per cent best times too. Up until this meet he considered his stroke to be breaststroke, but it was in his 100 fly that he came out with a silver medal much to the delight of his coach. "I've been trying to get Michael to even split his races better - to take it out with control - and he just seemed to execute so well in finals. He cut more than three seconds off of his preliminary time - quite an impressive feat!" beamed coach Albert Burgund.
The Sharks thank their many sponsors and invite all swim fans to watch online as Brooke Lamoureux, Jordyn Ryan and Ben Neufeld compete this weekend in Saskatoon at the Western Canadian Championships under the "Predators" banner – where they join forces with their Campbell River Killer Whale counterparts.
– Comox Valley Aquatic Club Sharks