Five Comox Valley Aquatic Club Sharks travelled to New Westminster to compete at the Canada Games pool for the Hyack Festival Youth Cup.
With over 450 competitors representing 17 teams, the meet was very tough. Entry criteria was a minimum of AAA Provincial times, ensuring fast swimming and exciting competition. The visiting teams from the USA (King Aquatic Club from Seattle and Thunderbolts from Beaverton, OR) proved to be quite a challenge for the host team (Hyack) and the rest of the Canadian clubs.
Despite the adversities that presented themselves, the meet was fast – numerous meet records fell and kept the competition exciting. Monetary prizes were given out for the top three places in each race: $30 for first, $20 for second, and $10 for third. Needless to say, this spurred the racers on.
During the meet, Brooke Lamoureux came first in the 800 free and second in the 200 free. She also added a first in the 400 free and a second in the 50 free. Her name will go in the Sharks' record books as the new record holder for long course 200 fly and 200 free, breaking two previous records set in 1998 by Jessie Bradshaw.
Jordyn Ryan scored a second in the 400 IM, a third in the 800 free, a second in the 200 IM, and a second in the 400 free. Jordyn's name will also be etched into Sharks' history as the new record holder of the long course 200 backstroke; breaking Jenny Lock's record set in 2000.
Juliana Bartemucci did her best by making second swims in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes.
Joyce Arends did very well. She made the finals in the 100 free, 100 fly, 50 free, and the 200 IM. That's a lot of swimming for one weekend.
Gabrielle Wolfe, our youngest competitor at the meet, came in 12th in her 800 free - quite a solid performance, as was her 400 free. Both her Individual Medley events (200 and 400) were swum well, too. Gabrielle is training hard and hopes to be qualifying for the Age Group National level soon. "The way she is training along with her determination begs for a positive outcome!" remarked her coach.
Check out our website at www.sharks.bc.ca or call our registrar, Loretta, 250-339-7295 to inquire about exciting new opportunities for the fall..."Swim with the Sharks!"
– Comox Valley Aquatic Club Sharks