Kokanee shine in Kamloops

The Vernon Kokanee Swim Club came away with 32 medals (14 gold, five silver, 13 bronze) from the Kamloops June Swimming Classic.

The Vernon Kokanee Swim Club came away with 32 medals (14 gold, five silver, 13 bronze) from the Kamloops June Swimming Classic.

Meredith Levorson opened the event with silver in the 100-metre backstroke and bronze in the 200 butterfly with a club record two minutes, 53.51 seconds.

Kaia Phillips won bronze in the 200 fly with a personal best (PB) 2:49.26. In the boys Over 15 200 fly final, the Terpstra boys, Wouter (PB 2:15.16) and Florian (2:20.86), collected silver and bronze respectively.

In the 13-14 girls 50 breaststroke final, Kiah Lee won gold with a club record 35.59, and Hannah Mehain won silver with a PB 36.82, making her first 15 girls age-group nationals time standard and a U15 Western Canadian standard.

Nick Phillips clocked a U10 boys Kokanee record  with a 3:59.48 in the 200 fly, and added bronze in the 100 back (PB 1:30.60) and 50 breast (51.86).

In the U10 girls, Indigo Freeman won bronze in the 50 breast with a PB 48.45.

On day two, Anika Kintzel earned her first-ever medal, finishing third in the 200 breast final with a PB 3:13.74, shaving six seconds off her time.

Levorson pocketed gold in the 100 freestyle with a club record 1:03.75, and another in the 200 back (2:31.46). Jamie Sullivan won a gold in the 200 back (2:28.98), Wouter Terpstra was golden in both the 400 IM (4:46.48) and 50 fly (27.07), and Lee took first in the 200 breast (2:52.42). Florian Terpstra struck bronze in the 200 breast (2:40.25).

On day three, Braden Kersey posted three PBs in taking bronze in the U10 boys 200 free (2:50.59) and 200 IM (3:18.85), and a gold in the 50 back (45.37). Lee recorded gold in the 100 breast (1:19.65) and bronze in the 200 IM (PB 2:32.76).

Levorson was first in the 100 breast final (PB 1:24.40) and 50 back (PB 33.46, club record). Regan Peace won gold in the 50 back (PB 36.37) and Wouter Terpstra added gold in both the 100 fly (PB 58.43) and 200 IM (PB 2:14.70).

Hannah Mehain unearthed silver in the 100 breast (PB 1:23.44) and Jared Ross won silver in the 50 back (PB 45.62). Zac Benn won bronze in the 50 back (PB 39.37) and Morgan Mardiros won bronze in the U10 girls 100 breast with a PB 1:42.48.

Sydney Fillion made the U11 Girls B.C. AAA standard in the 100 breast with a PB 1:33.94. She qualified for B.C. AAA Championships, July 5-8,  in Richmond. Paul Czerwonka made his 15 boys age-group national standard in the 100 breast with a PB 1:15.58. He qualified for age-group nationals, July 25-30, in Calgary.

Kokanee swimmers recording personal bests in all their races include: Abbey Bartel, Benn, Kersey, Sean Manchester, Jacob Phillips, Ross, Jamie Sullivan, Kevin Sullivan, Florian Terpstra and Wouter Terpstra.

The Kokanee finished fourth out of 19 clubs.

Vernon Morning Star