Kitimat Marlins swimmers broke a number of records and scored a resounding win at last week’s second annual Rio Tinto northwest B.C. regional swim meet.
The Marlins team competed against teams from Smithers and Prince Rupert, breaking 12 pool records and winning the meet, scoring 400 points more than second place finishers, Prince Rupert. Smithers finished third overall. The Kitimat Marlins have now won all five regional swim meets this season.
Marlins swimmer Jadyn Johnston, 12, broke six pool records in the 11 to 12 age group. He lowered his own pool records in the 400 individual medley, 800 free and 1500 freestyle. He also lowered the pool record in the 400 free by seven seconds. The old record was set by ex-Kitimat swimmer Graeme Last in 1988.
Johnston also broke the 200 backstroke pool record from 1998 held by Thomas Demetzer from the Terrace Bluebacks, taking four seconds off the previous record. Lastly he broke the 100 meter backstroke record held by Trey Kish from Prince Rupert in 2012 by a second.
Johnston took the gold in the 11-12 boys division.
Breaking five pool records in the 10 and under boys division was Gavin Thomopoulos, who lowered his own pool record in the 200 meter butterfly. He also lowered the pool record in the 50 fly by two seconds. The old record was held by Arend Stamhuis from Prince Rupert’s Rapids set in 1993.
He broke the 100 butterfly record by two seconds. The old record was held by Triston Brown from the Terrace Bluebacks set in 1993. He broke the 200 freestyle record by two seconds as well. The old record was held by Thomas Demetzer from the Terrace Bluebacks set in 1996. Lastly he broke the 50 backstroke by two-tenths of a second and the 100 backstroke record by half a second.
Both records were held by Liam McChesney from the Prince Rupert Rapids set in 2012. Thomopoulos took gold for overall points in the 10 and under boys division.
Zachary Dumas also broke a pool record in the 15 and over boys 100m.
Dumas took one second off the old record held by Brett Zollen from the Bulkley Valley Otters set in 2012. Zollen also swam with the university Vikings for four seasons. Dumas took gold for overall points in the 15 and over boys division.
In the 10 and under girls division the Marlins swept the medals as well, with Megan Forrest winning gold, setting personal best times in all seven of her races. Anais Ramos-Gadbois swam personal best times in all seven of her events to take the silver (her first ever regional medal) and Faith Silva bronze.
In the 10 and under boys Lucas johnston achieved his first AA Provincial time in the 11 and under 50m freestyle on his way to a bronze medal in the 10 and under boys division. In the 11-12 girls division Olivia Pearson took the silver medal for the Marlins while Annika Desousa swam personal best times in all seven of her events and achieved her first A Provincial time in the 12-13 girls on her way to the bronze medal.
In the 11-12 boys Jake Kluss swam to personal best times in all seven of his events on his way to a bronze medal. In the 13-14 girls division once again the Marlins swept the medals with Charlotte Collier taking gold, Iris Striker achieving her first AA Provincial time in the 14-15 girls 800m free on her way to the silver and Sarah Toth taking the bronze (her first ever regional medal).
In the 13-14 boys division Nolen Knox achieved personal best times in all seven of his races and took the silver. Ewan Thomopoulos achieved his first ever AAA Provincial time in the 12-13 boys on his way to the bronze medal. In the 15 and over girls division Hannah Pearson took the silver with Kleanza Cathers taking the bronze.
Also achieving his first AAA Provincial times was Grayden Rusconi in the 11 and under 100 and 200 breaststroke.
Swimmers achieving their first A Provincial time were Isaiah Silva 200m and 100m free and Joshua Reis 100 backstroke, both in the 12-13 boys, and Brandon Ciemniak 50m free in the 11 and under boys division.
Others swimmers for the Marlins who did the tough task of achieving personal best times in all their races were Ethan Amos, Kate Byrne, Brandon Ciemniak, Mason Fernandes, Marisa Flegel, Dallas Gray, Halle Gray, Markus Maag, Makaela Mendoza, Kamryn O’Neil, Jake Quinn, Louie Quinn, Joshua Reis, Mckenna Reis, Grayden Rusconi, Mallory Scrivens, Isaiah Silva, Meaghan Skinner, Liam Velho and Harry Zhou.
