(Submitted photo)

(Submitted photo)

Vernon Kokanee swimmers sensational in Kelowna

VKSC swimmers set four new club records, qualify for 2020 Speedo Western Championships

  • Jan. 25, 2020 12:00 a.m.

The Vernon Kokanee Swim Club kicked off the year on a strong note at the 2020 Kelowna AquaJets Snowfest invitational, as athletes set four new club records and qualified for high-level events in the near future.

Angel Loseth was dominant across a number of different strokes at the swim meet from Jan. 18-19. She secured gold in the 100 m free swim, the 50 m freestyle, the 100 m butterfly and 50 m backstroke. She added silver medals in the 100 and 200 m backstroke, and a bronze in the 50 m butterfly.

With her times of 28.91 in the 50 m freestyle and 1:10.71 in the 100 m backstroke, Loseth made her first two Speedo Western Championships time standards in the 13-year-old category, putting her in position to attend the Championships in Saskatoon from April 16-19.

Meanwhile, Gavin Johnson earned a gold medal in the 50 m breaststroke with a time of 37.23 and silver medal in the 200 m Freestyle with a time of 2:55.88.

On top of that, the 12-year-old swam two long-course club records in the 50 m and 200 m backstroke for his age group.

Another strong performance came from Liam Greenan, who won gold in the the 200 m backstroke with a time of 2:37.31, 200 m Breaststroke with a time of 2:43.25. The 13-year-old also earned silver in the 100 m and 50 m backstroke and the 50 m butterfly, and added a bronze medal in the 200 m individual medley.

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Also in the 13-year-old group was Nathan Campbell – who scored a bronze in the 100 m butterfly with his time of 1:19:44 – and Bella Nelson with her bronze-winning time of 3:05:00 in the 200 m butterfly.

In the men’s 16 and over group, Ludwig Kaftan also qualified for the 2020 Western Championships in the 50 m breaststroke, swimming a VKSC club record in the event.

Paul Tenbieg qualified for the BC Provincial Championships in the 200 m breaststroke. It’s the 17-year-old’s first time making the cut for the provincial meet, which takes place March 5-8 in Victoria.

In the 14/15 age group, Alexanne Lepage set a new club record in the girl’s 200 m freestyle with a time of 2:12:33 – this while winning a gold medal in individual medley and the 50 and 100 m freestyle. She added a silver in the 400 IM.

Ryan Murphy won himself gold medals in freestyle and backstroke while adding a silver and a bronze.

Jennifer Heffner took home a bronze medal in the 200 m backstroke with a time of 2:40:07.

On Feb. 8 the swimmers have their last chance to qualify for the Winter Age Group Championships – a provincial championships for U12 girls and U13 boys – which take place Feb. 21-23 in Vancouver. Johnson, Greenan, Kaelyn McIntyre and Hayden Molitwenik have already qualified.


Brendan Shykora

Reporter, Vernon Morning Star

Email me at Brendan.Shykora@vernonmorningstar.com

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