Morning Star Staff
Having a club member compete at the Canadian Olympic swimming trials highlighted a busy April for the Vernon Kokanee Swim Club.
Meredith Levorson attended the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Trials in Toronto and came home with best times in the 100-metre backstroke and the 100-freestyle, where Levorson broke Kevyn Peterson’s 10-year-old club record.
“It was a very good experience racing Canada’s top swimmers at Canada’s top swim meet and will be helpful in future national level events,” said Kokanee head coach Steven Vander Meulen of Levorson’s results.
The Kokanee sent 35 swimmers to Calgary for a team trip to the Calgary Patriots’ 41st Annual Chinook Invitational.
One of the highlights of the meet was the 50-free eliminator race where Levorson and Kelsey Fillion swam into the top-four final for girls.
Levorson came away with the fastest swim in 26.90 seconds, breaking her club record from last year, and Fillion finished fourth with a new best time and new club record in 27.82.
Sophie Lepage had a good 50-free and made her first AAA provincial time in 29.85.
Thomas Mardiros solidified his AA provincial times by making all new AA times in three breastroke events in the long-course pool.
Ryan Murphy posted new AAA times long course in two backstroke events.
Ellie Williamson made a AA provincial time in 50-free.
Matthew Winn placed first in the 100- and 200-butterfly and 200-free.
Angela Zeng made a new AA Provincial time in 50-breast in 47.57.
“The travel swim meet was an overall very successful event and swimmers came away with a good team trip experience,” said Vander Meulen.
While the majority of Kokanee were in Calgary, a small group of new swimmers were at another long course event in Kamloops.
Five swimmers represented the VKSC and had a great experience racing long course for the first time.
Kate Mallow had a very successful meet by making her first ever regional qualifying time in the 200 individual medley in 3:54.67.
Nathan Campbell, Evelyn Gow, Tyler Kersey and Danika Zaino all managed to place in all of their races within the top three spots.
“The club is doing really well overall as we have swimmers experiencing either their first-ever swim meets at a long course pool or their first ever senior national event at Canada’s most competitive swim meet,” said Vander Meulen.
“Our club is well-rounded from the first level of swimmer to the national level and shows a consistent commitment to all-around development.”
The next couple of swim meets for the Kokanees will be the West Kelowna Jamboree Saturday and the Kelowna Long Course Invitational May 13-15.
The Vernon Kokanee Swim Club will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary on June 10-11 with an alumni swim meet and a banquet.
