In her first national swimming event, 14-year-old Selkirks swim club member Chantal Jefferey excelled at the Canadian Age Group Championships in Quebec City.
Joining Jeffery on the cross-country trip was 17-year-old Bree Cooper.
The two local swimmers competed head-to-head against Canada’s top junior swimmers.
The local pair consistently finished in the top five in all of Canada in their age group.
Jeffrey had a break out meet as she collected three medals at the national level, turning many heads in the process.
In her first big race of the meet, and first time swimming at the national level, Jeffrey swam an unbelievable 1,500-metre race.
She shaved an incredible 20 seconds off her previous best time.
Her time was good enough to qualify for the senior nationals, and just missed the mark of an Olympic trials qualifying time by two seconds.
Jeffery followed up with a bronze medal in the 800-m and silver in the five kilometre open water swimming event.
Jeffrey made quite the impression on the coaches, as she was identified by Swim Canada as a top distance freestyle prospect.
She also had top 10 finishes in the 200-m butterfly stroke, 200-m freestyle and 400-m freestyle, finishing the season in a spectacular fashion.
Jefferey’s teammate, Cooper competed in the very competitive 16-18 age category, with both top Canadians and invited Americans swimming alongside her.
Cooper was off her best form, but still managed to be to be in the top 10 for all 17 year olds in Canada in all six of her events.
Her top finishes included fifth in the 100-m breaststroke, sixth in the 50-m breaststroke and seventh in the 100-m butterfly stroke.
Cooper now has two weeks off before heading to swim for her university team, the Simon Fraser Clansman, in her inaugural season in the NCAA.
Manning in Fort McMurray
On Aug. 14 Maggie Manning will competes at the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games in Fort McMurray, Alta. as one of two para-swimmers representing British Columbia.
Manning, 15, has only been swimming competitively for two years, and has excelled since joining the Selkirks swim club.
She was born with severe bilateral hip dysplasia, which means she’s essentially had to grow up without hips.
Her condition makes tasks such as walking difficult and painful, but Manning has found that competitive swimming is not only something she enjoys, but it doesn’t add to the struggles of her disability.
She says she owes part of her success to her coaches who saw her potential and supported her in becoming a para-athlete.
Manning will be competing in the 50-m freestyle, 100-m freestyle, 100-m backstroke, 100-m butterfly stroke and 200-m individual medley.
She says the Games will be a great opportunity to meet and compete with other elite athletes.
Manning is adamant that she is not worried about where she finishes in the standings.
Her goal she says is to achieve best times and enjoy the experience.
