After posting some of the top times in the country at this season’s BC Provincial Championships in January and Western Canadian Championships in February, three Comox Valley Aquatic Club swimmers were selected to Team BC’s prestigious 2014 Prospects West Camp and Dual Meet.
Ben Neufeld (15), Jordyn Ryan (14) and Cole Young (15) were each selected based on the merit of their total FINA points (the international scoring system for swimmers) in an age-event category. They joined a select group from BC in Saskatoon for an intense, four-day camp and competition.
The Prospects West initiative brings together all-star teams from B.C., Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan along with selected coaches to train and race. Swimmers spent their days in the classroom, gym and pool learning from master coaches and sports experts – they lived and breathed swimming over these days.
"2012 Olympian and 2014 PanPacs and Commonwealth Games Team member, Alec Page, was on hand through the weekend to provide mentorship to the swimmers, as well as leading the swimmers through the activation protocol developed and supported by the Canadian Sport Institute's experts working with the National Team swimmers. Alec also gave a talk on Saturday after the dinner, recounting his progression from swimming in water holes on Cortes Island to standing on a starting block alongside Michael Phelps at the 2012 Olympics.
"The culmination of the camp was a tri-meet which pitted the three teams against each other in a World Cup-type timed-final format. In the past, this has been a closely fought battle between B.C. and Alberta, with no more than 10 points typically separating the two teams; last year, for example, Alberta prevailed by a mere three points.
"This year however, the B.C. swimmers delivered a standing knockout shot in the first event, sweeping the top three places in the boys 800 free and never looked back, winning by almost 100 points. Final point scores had B.C. on top with 554 to Alberta's 469, with Man-Sask pulling in 156 points." (Quote from SwimBC.ca).
"Not only were three members of our club selected (more than any other club in British Columbia), but our head coach Kris Bell was also selected to participate in this major annual event," a CVAC spokesperson said.
"It was an incredible opportunity for these swimmers and a huge nod of recognition towards our local swim club and coach Bell. Way to go Sharks!"
Want to swim with the Sharks? For more information, check out our website at www.sharks.bc.ca.
– Comox Valley Aquatic Club Sharks