More than 400 swimmers will hit the pool at the Penticton Community Centre for the Swim B.C. Short Course AA championship Friday to Sunday.
The event features athletes in the age groups of 11 and under, 12 to 13, and 14 and over. The KISU swim club has 16 swimmers competing and coach Tina Hoeben can’t help but sport a grin when talking about the event.
“I think it will be a rare treat to have the meet in your home pool,” she said. “I think there’s lots of advantages. You’re comfortable, you’re relaxed. You get to sleep in your own bed. You don’t have any travel. Plus, this will spark their pride in being the host as well.”
This is Hoeben’s favourite meet because she has witnessed athletes “blossom.”
“Rise to that occasion and they find depth and strength that they never really knew they had,” she said. “It’s always an amazing meet for that. Not just our swimmers.”
Hoeben is confident their swimmers will perform well. Among them will be Avery Barnett.
“I think he’s due for a big improvement. He’s looked really good in the water,” said Hoeben. “He’s been training really strong. He’s really been hungry. He will jump at swimming the harder set. That’s really going to show up in the water and in those races for sure.”
Annmarie Lang-Hodge, 16, is excited as it’s one of the big meets of the year.
“One of the meets where I swim my fastest,” she said.
Lang-Hodge is coming off a strong performance in Kelowna at the end of January.
“I took off a lot of time in a lot of my races,” she said.
Lang-Hodge added that for each swimmer, this weekend is more than just performing for themselves, it is for the club.
For Sean Peters, 10, it is his first championship. He has enjoyed putting in the training and feels good about how he is doing.
“I look forward to getting medals, best times and making AAAs,” said Peters, who is strong in the 50- and 200-metre freestyle.
Competitions for Friday and Saturday are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Finals are from 5 to 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, morning competitions start at the same time, while the finals start at approximately 4:30 p.m. There are 40 clubs competing.
Not only has Hoeben been impressed with her swimmers, but the club’s organizing committee and the work they have put in.
“I really think that they will accomplish the goal of hosting the best AAs ever,” she said. “Some of the prep work they have done, I’ve never seen other clubs do that. I’m really hopeful that the visiting clubs walk away feeling like they want to come back to Penticton for another AA in future years.”
