Ten swimmers from KWIC (Kelowna-West Kelowna Integrated Club) gained some valuable national experience at the Canadian Junior Championships, July 26 to 31 in Toronto.
Although small in numbers KWIC placed 43rd out of 148 teams from all across the country, while swimming to 13 best times, 10 B finals and 2 A finals.
Leading the scoring for KWIC was Taylor Smith who racked up 31 points, placing 11th in 200 breast, 14th in 200IM, 15th in 100 back, 17th in 200 back and 19th in 100 breast.
Andrea Kraetzer swam to an A final in the 50 free placing 6th with a time of 27.55 making her the 3rd fastest 13 year old girl in the country.
Axana Merckx also qualified for an A final and swam to a 9th place finish in her 200IM, she also placed 12th in her 400IM qualifying her for the Olympic trials.
Molly Hill swam to a 13th place finish in her 200 fly and a 15th place in 100 fly, while Erin Epp swam to 14th place in her 400IM and 15th in 200IM, and Harold Yick swam to best time in his 50 free.
The girls 4×100 free relay (Andrea Kraetzer, Axana Merckx, Molly Hill and Erin Epp) swam to a 14th-place finish, while the girls 4×100 medley relay (Taylor Smith back, Erin Epp breast, Axana Merckx fly and Andrea Kraetzer free) finish in 15th place.
Other strong swims were had by Paige Foster, Matthew MacDonald, Cameron McInnes, and Jasper Stone.
KWIC’s Axana Merckx and Christina Russo are in competing at the Canadian Swimming Championships this week in Montreal.
