The Vernon Kokanee Swim Club 11 and under athletes sizzled at the Kelowna Aquajets Invitational last weekend.
Blayke Butler posted six top-eight finishes; second in the 50-metre freestyle, third in the 200-m and 100-m breaststroke, fourth in the 200 IM and seventh in the 200 and 100 freestyle.
Alexanne Lepage netted silver medals in the 200 breast and 200 individual medley, while delivering bronze in the 100 back. She also narrowly missed medals in the 100 free and butterfly.
Ellie Williamson swam a huge best time in the morning and set herself up to win the 11 and under 200 back in 3:01.43. She also placed seventh in the 200 breast, fifth in the 200 free and IM, eighth in the 200 breast and fourth in the 100 fly.
Jarett Molitwenik finished eighth in her 200 back, while Aidan McWhinney had 100 per cent personal bests by placing sixth in the 50 free, 100 back and 200 free. Nathan Campbell, Breanna Jolley, and Charlotte Lemay qualified for their first-ever finals.
The older swimmers had many excellent races as well. Ryan Murphy swam away with bronze medals in the 50 free, 100 back, while picking up a silver in the 200 back. Training partner Brandon Phillips raced the 100 breast in third. Sophie Lepage finished second in the 200 free, narrowly out-touching her nearest competitor.
Samantha Shortt finished eighth in the 100 fly in 1:14.52, qualifying for the AA provincial championships in February.
Inspired by his younger sister’s 200 back, a few heats before his own, Liam Williamson placed third in the backstroke and fourth in his 100 breast. Matthew Winn was third in the men’s senior 1,500 free and the 100 fly. Charlotte Wendlant was third in the 100 back, 100 and 200 fly, and second in the 200 back.
Kelsey Fillion also racked up a few medals winning the 50 free, pocketing silvers in the 100 and 200 free, third in the 200 IM and fourth in the 400 frees. Fillion also placed second in the 100 back, breaking the club record for 12-13-year-old girls long course.
Her backstroke time of 1:09.33 is her third qualifying standard for the Canadian Junior Championships. Fillion is one of three athletes qualified for the Western Canadian Open in April.
Also qualifying for Westerns as a 16 year old is Alexandra Shortt, whose 200 breaststroke, in 2:48.17, was worthy of bronze.
There were 20 swimmers with 100 per cent best times: Blayke Butler, Jenna Heffner, Abbi Johnson, Graham Johnson, Breanna Jolly, Amelie Jordan, Amy Lausman, Charlotte Lemay, Eduard Lemay, Khali Lindahl, Bailey Maddicks, Aidan McWhinney, Ryan Murphy, Isabelle Nelson, Jack Screen, Zach Sholdice, Charlotte Wendlant, Ellie Williamson, Robert Yacovelli, and Angela Zeng.
