The Kelowna AquaJets Swim Club hosted its largest May Long Course Invitational to date, as 430 swimmers converged on the H20 Centre last weekend.
The sixth annual meet May 9 to 11 featured 18 teams from across B.C. and Alberta.
“It has been really exciting to watch this event blossom into what it is today in only six years,” said Jets head coach Peter Wilkins.
The AquaJets had 42 swimmers of their own racing in red caps over the three day competition.
“The team did an outstanding job, from the racing and team spirit to the officials and volunteers managing and running an organized and energetic event,” Wilkins added.
The Jets collected 198 personal best times through the weekend and saw four new club records set by Josh Zakala.
Zakala, 17, lowered his own mark in the 200 Breast 15-17 and Mens Open categories posting a 2:26.69 in finals. Zakala also eclipsed a Nic Menezes record set back in 2009 (32.96) with his 50 Breast time of 32.70.
Other highlights on the weekend were two Jets swimming to new qualifying standards: Erin Epp, 11, made two AAA standards in the 50m Free (32.84) and 50m Fly (38.38), qualifying her for AAA Provincials in Victoria in July.
Teammate Molly Hill, 13, earned her third Age Group National qualifying time in the 400 IM, earning the right to compete in Quebec this summer.
The weekend prior to competition, the Jets also hosted an in house time trial for distance events which saw some exciting results as well. Axana Merckx, 13, set a new club record in the girls 13-14 category for the 1500 posting a time of 18:52.11. Merckx erased the old mark set by Monique Kennedy back in 2010 in a time of 19:15.07.
In the same event and heat, older teammate Emily Epp, made her third qualifying standard for Age Group Nationals in a time of 18:42.08, making her eligible for the competition in Quebec City.
Jets that placed in the top three in their individual swims were: Molly Hill (400 IM, 100 and 200 Fly, 800 Free) Axana Merckx (800 Free and 200 IM), Josh Zakala (50 Free, 50, 100 and 200 Breast, 100 and 200 Fly), Emily Epp (200 and 800 Free, 400 IM), Megan Elkin (100 Free), and Johnny Ekinci (100 Back).
Jets earning A finals, placing in the top eight were: Ella Rolleston, Taylor Desrosier, Brandon Mullin, Tia Itterman, Paige Foster, Brooklyn Semashkewich, and Erin Epp.
The team also had 21 swimmers that were 100 per cent best times over the weekend: Emma Berg, Nolan Cameron, Olivia Courtenay, Sarah Courtenay, Chloe Dalgarno, Taylor Desrosier, Megan Elkin, Paige Foster, Alex Kopas, Alexa Kormany, Jordyn Lombardi, Kyla Lynn, Ideen Maleki, Kelbrai Mellum, Emelia Schwarz, Kaylin Scuka, Christina Urban, Renatta Waller, Kodi Wiman.
