By Eliza McGuire, Revelstoke Aquaducks
The Revelstoke Aquaducks hosted a huge number of swimmers from around the Okanagan region this weekend at the Revelstoke Aquatic Centre.
With an outpouring of local support, the Aquaducks swam themselves to yet another top-three finish, showing excellent consistency coming in second on the girls side, second on the boys side and second overall. There were many swimmers making finals and placing in the top three of their division, which was more difficult than usual as this meet was the best attended of any Revelstoke meet with an exceptional 360 swimmers. So, while crowded, the competition was an excellent rehearsal for the regional championship to be held in Penticton in three weeks.
Parents and swimmers ringed the pool side as the races went off one after another, without delay, all day Saturday and Sunday.
Top aggregates for the Aquaducks were:
– Division one: Ryder Litke, third
– Division two: Alex Jay, second
– Division three: Brynn Hoshizaki, tied for second
– Division four: Beth Granstrom, third
– Division five: Bryce Molder, first
– Division seven: Emily Pfeiffer, first; Jacob Wallach, third
– Division eight: Eliza McGuire, first, Rosemary Kelsall, third.
Breaking meet records were Bryce Molder in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:29.23, which was also a new club record; and Emily Pfeiffer in the 50-meter butterfly, bettering her own record by one one-hundredth of a second to a 31.53. Both swimmers won all four of their individual events.
More club records fell this weekend as Beth Granstrom bettered her own club record in winning the 200-metre Individual Medley with a time of 2:48.52, and gained a new club record in the 100-metre backstroke with a time of 1:18.46, in which she came second. The record was previously held by Emily Pfeiffer. Bryce Molder bettered his own club records in the 100-metre butterfly and the 100-metre freestyle, with times of 1:07.04 and 59.23 respectively.
Molder said his favourite race was the freestyle relay, in which he led out the team in a personal best of 27.70.
Looking to the future, the Aquaducks travel to Golden next weekend to compete in the last competition in the Okanagan region before regionals, with high hopes for more fast swimming, excitement and fun.
The Summer Swim club gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Columbia Basin Trust.