Zac Benn highlighted a strong Vernon Kokanee team performance with a meet record at the B.C. AAA Long Course Swim Championships last weekend in Victoria.
Benn, competing in the 12 boys division, struck gold in the 100-metre butterfly in one minute, 6.44 seconds to set the new AAA benchmark. He was also golden in the 50 freestyle (29.05) and 200 fly (2:29.30). Benn will compete at age-group nationals, July 24-29, in Montreal.
The Kokanee club record in the 11-12 boys 200 IM also fell as Benn claimed silver in Victoria in 2:32.41. He was also runner-up in the 400 IM (5:23.64) and took bronze in the 200 backstroke (2:30.80).
In total, Vernon took four gold, 10 silver and four bronze at provincials, good enough for 17th out of 50 clubs from B.C., Alberta and Toronto.
Other Kokanee results include:
11 Boys – Nick Phillips won silver in the 1,500 free with a personal best (PB) 21:49.16, shaving 92 seconds off his previous best. He trimmed 22 seconds off his 400 free time to place fourth.
Matthew Winn took more than three minutes off his 1,500 free time (22:08.30) to bank bronze. He was seventh in the 200 fly (3:26.07), while Braden Kersey ranked eighth in the 100 free with a PB 1:12.08.
11 Girls – Jaalah Ward earned seventh in the 200 back with a PB of 2:52.18.
14 Girls – Meredith Levorson pocketed silver and a club record in the 50 free (28.15), and was also runner-up in the 100 free (1:01.03) and 200 free (2:13.26). She was third in the 200 back (PB 2:29.14), fourth in the 400 free (4:42.48), seventh in the 100 back (1:11.81) and shaved 36 seconds off her 800 free time (9:48.24) for eighth.
London Paralympic veteran Sarah Mehain collected gold in the 100 back (1:34.92), and silver in the 100 free (1:22.71), 200 IM (3:21.67), 100 breast (1:51.89) and 50 fly (41.80).
Mehain will represent Canada at the IPC World Championships, Aug. 12-18, in Montreal.
Over 15 Girls – Kaia Phillips was ninth in the 800 free (PB 9:53.29).
Over 16 Boys – Wouter Terpstra struck bronze in the 200 IM (PB 2:13.15), was seventh in the 100 fly (57.99) and eighth in the 200 fly (2:13.64).
Kokanee turning in PBs at provincials include: Jaalah Ward – 100 breast (1:38.00) and 100 fly (1:25.20); Winn – 200 fly (3:10.47); Kaia Phillips – 200 free (2:20.25); Nick Phillips – 400 IM (6:24.69); Florian Terpstra – 100 back (1:05.28), 200 back (2:20.50) and 100 fly (1:01.71); and Wouter Terpstra – 100 back (1:06.43), 200 back (2:25.24).
Wouter Terpstra will compete at Summer Nationals, July 17-20, in Pointe-Claire, Que., while Levorson will join Benn at age-group nationals.
For more information about the Kokanee, visit www.vksc.ca
