The Comox Valley Aquatic Club attended the 10th annual Wavemaker Invitational, April 26-28 in Victoria. The meet was a chance for swimmers to make the long course standards in their events for the Age Group Summer Nationals this summer in Montreal.
“The swimmers came here on a mission – make times!” explained coach Albert Burgund. The rules at Nationals seed long course (50m) entry times before short course (25m) qualifying times, giving swimmers with long course qualifying times a huge advantage. “We don’t get too many chances to compete in a 50-metre basin and the Saanich Commonwealth Pool is one of the best in Canada – so we are quite fortunate to be so close,” stated Burgund.
Making the National Age Group standard were Juliana Bartemucci (50,100 breast), Brooke Lamoureux (100, 200, 400, 800 free, and 200 fly), Ben Neufeld (200 back), and Jordyn Ryan (200, 400 IM, 100, 200 Fly, and 800 free). “Congratulations swimmers and enjoy Montreal!” a Sharks’ spokesperson said.
The great news doesn’t stop there – the results for everyone were outstanding. Joyce Arends dropped 14.02 seconds in her 200 fly and 2.37 seconds in her 200 free – even swimming the last 50 butterfly. Ethan Ashley swam 100 per cent best times and earned a bronze in the 400 free. Juliana added a gold and a bronze and also swam 100 per cent best times. Teammate Amelia Elder did a great job, showing that she is on the right track. Michael Jung had the meet of his life, having numerous double-digit drops in time and winning a bronze in the 100 breast.
Brooke was on fire and swam so much it felt more like a workout than a swim meet. She walked away with three gold in the 200, 400, and 800 free, one silver and three bronze. Ben did not want to be outdone – he stepped things up with a massive 30.87-second drop in his 400 IM, leading the way to five gold and four silver medals.
Connor O’Hara swam well with a solid performance in his 50 free. Janaya Ryan swam 100 per cent best times and is looking to catch up to her big sister. Jordyn picked up a silver and four bronze but impressed the coach with her 19.64-second drop in her 400 IM and her 12.33-second drop in her 800 free only one week after swimming it at the Prospects West Camp.
Emma Wolfe, our youngest competitor, also made 100 per cent best times by shaving a very impressive 16.25 seconds off of her 50 fly and completing her first long course 400 free. Big sister Gabrielle swam 100 per cent best times and made her coach proud when she killed her best times in both the 400 free (17.16 seconds off) and 800 free where her personal best plummeted a whopping 39.51 seconds – a testament to her hard work in the days preceding the meet.
The Sharks wish to thank their sponsors and invite everyone to support the swim-a-thon.
– Comox Valley Aquatic Club Sharks
