Summerland’s swimmers keep on showing thing that they are for real as they keep notching up top performances, this time at the B.C. AA Provincial championships.
Thirteen-year-old Myra Veidt led the team with four scoring performances.
Her best finish gave her a silver medal in the 200 breaststroke.
She also had a fourth place finishes in the 100 breaststroke, the 400 freestyle and a fifth in the demanding 400 individual medley.
For Veidt, the 100 breaststroke was a bittersweet result. She performed a lifetime best time but missed qualifying for the next higher level of competition by a mere .03 seconds.
Haley Berrisford, 10, continued her club-record setting ways in the 400 freestyle in lowering her previous mark on her way to seventh place finish.
“Haley had a tough weekend but showed what she is made of,” said head coach Tom Best.
“She had a cold the week before so that slowed her down a bit. She still came up with all best times from her swims at the meet,” he added. In addition to the 400 freestyle, Berrisford crushed her own best time in the 200 individual medley by 16 seconds for a new club mark in that event.
Paige Burke, 14, had a few surprising swims at the meet as well. Although she had not swum many backstroke races this season, she squeaked into the final of the 100 meter final of that discipline and raced to an unexpected seventh place.
Although he did not qualify for any finals, Colin Burke, 17, swam to a pair of best times in freestyle.
Overall, the coaching staff was pleased with the result of the meet, which was held in Chilliwack. We’ve had medalists and finalists at the AA meet the last five times.
“You don’t get that with just one or two kids, you have to have some depth in the program and that’s what we’re starting to see now,” said Best.
Members of the team next head to Victoria March 3 to 6 for the B.C. AAA Provincial Championships.
In other club news, ORCA is holding its first annual Swimathon fundraising event this week.
The cuts in the gaming grants have had a major effect on many youth sports organizations and the Orca is no exception, according to club president Colleen Emshay. As a result, the team has been looking at additional fundraising opportunities.
Anyone wishing to make a pledge or contribute to the event in any way is asked to call Tom Best at 778-516-5000 or tomubest@hotmail.com.