The Kitimat Marlins Swim Club were in Prince George recently for the Prince George Invitational swim meet.
With teams from Quesnel, Chetwynd, Williams Lake, Smithers, Terrace, Prince Rupert and B.C. power house — the 200 swimmer team Prince George — competition was fierce. The Marlins competed well though, and every swimmer achieved personal best times.
Two Marlins made breakthroughs and achieved their first AA Provincial qualifying standard. This allows them to compete at the AA Provincial Championships in Surrey this February.
Madison Szmata (11) qualified in the 11 and under 50 meter freestyle as she took off a whopping two seconds in the sprint event and went under the standard by half a second.
Ben Anker (14) achieved his AA Provincial time in the 14 year old boy 100 meter backstroke with a three second drop from his old personal best time and going one second under the AA Provincial time standard.
Anker also had the biggest drop in time from his previous best time for the Marlins, a 12.5 second improvement in his 100 IM.
The Marlin swimmers Anker and Brander Pacheco (14) also did the very tough task of achieving 100 per cent personal best times in all eight of their races.
– Submitted
