Vernon Kokanee swimmers had a solid showing at the provincial and national level competitions at the end of the 2014-2015 swim season.
The Kokanee had seven athletes at AAs held in Kamloops, nine for AAAs in Victoria and one for Age Group Nationals held in Montreal.
“I am very proud of all they have accomplished this season,” said Kokanee coach Tara Taylor. “It is really great to see their hard work pay off with so many new and repeat qualifiers for various levels of competition.”
Kelsey Fillion, 12, made her debut on the Age Group National stage in Montreal.
Fillion showed her mettle by placing eighth in the 100-metre freestyle in the 12-year-old category with a time of 1:03.14 and the next evening, in the 50m free final, she finished fourth with a time of 28.51. She also swam a best time in her 100m backstroke on Day 4 in 1:14.53, taking off three seconds in the morning.
Fillion is currently ranked fifth across Canada for her 50m freestyle in the 12-year-old girl category. She also placed ninth in the B-final at Swim B.C.’s AAA Championships earlier in July (28.45).
At the Swim B.C. AA Championships, Jonathan Heffner, 12, competing in the 12-13 category, was in the medals in the 400m free where he placed third in 5:08.79 and made his first AAA time standard.
Not satisfied with just one medal, Heffner came back and swam 2:24.09 in his 200m free and nabbed silver. He also had several other top-eight places; sixth in 100m backstroke (1:17.72), sixth in the 100m freestyle (1:05.97), and fifth in the 200m backstroke (2:45.74).
Christopher Kersey, 11, made his entrance onto the provincial stage finishing seventh in the 200m breaststroke (3:37.39), fifth in the 100m butterfly (1:41.62), and fifth in the 100m breast (1:38.46).
Kersey also made his first AAA time standard in the 100m breaststroke.
Brandon Phillips, 11, qualified for finals and place fourth in the 50m free (34.13), eighth in the 100m free (1:21.84), and seventh in the 100m breast (1:44.94).
Tate Priebe, 14, also made finals and finished sixth in the 50m free (27.43) and eighth in the 100m free (1:01.77).
Not to be outdone by the boys, Morgan Mardiros placed fifth in the 200m free (2:23.17) and Sydney Fillion had a seasonal best time in the 200m individual medley.
At the AAAs in Victoria, Nicole Bargaso, 11, made her first final in the 11 and under girls 200m fly (3:17.27), and finished seventh in the girls 50m fly (35.70).
Blake Davidson, 11, also a first-time AAA qualifier, had a best time in his 200m butter (3:45.18).
Braden Kersey, 13, broke 30 seconds for the first time during an exciting swim-off going 29.59, and Nick Phillips, 13, placed 15th for his 1,500m free in 19:38.35.
Teammate and fellow 1,500 swimmer Matthew Winn, 13, placed 10th going 19:24.93 and swimming under 20 minutes for the first time.
Liam Williamson, 12, swam a personal best of 2:47.91 in his 200m individual medley, as well as a best time in his 1,500m free (21:07.39).
Alexandra Shortt, 14, swam a best time in her 50m breast (38.91).
Meredith Levorson of the Kokanee is on Team B.C. that is competing at the Western Canada Summer Games in Fort McMurray which began Friday.
