Submitted
Twenty-four members of the Golden Dolphins Swim Club travelled to Kamloops on August 3 and 4 to compete in the annual regional swimming championships.
Madison Sherriff, Hunter Thorne, Malcolm Labonville, and Devon Murphy all set new club records. Sherriff snuck under the girl’s Division 3 50-metre freestyle record, which stood since 2011.
Labonville broke the boy’s Division 2 50-metre butterfly club record, while Murphy set a new standard in the girl’s Division 4 category for the same event. Hunter Thorne rewrote two records as he shaved two seconds off the boy’s Division 2 50-metre backstroke, as well as improved upon his own record in the 100-metre individual medley (IM), which he set earlier this summer.
The following 10 individuals placed inside the top three in their respective divisions, which and earned themselves a ticket to the provincial championships:
Emme Abbs placed third in the 50-metre and 100-metre butterfly, as well as in the 100-metre freestyle.
Nolan Alexander-Mitchell placed second in the 100-metre breastroke and third in the 100-metre backstroke.
Malcolm Labonville placed first in the 50-metre butterfly, second in the 50-metre freestyle, and third in the 100-metre IM and 50-metre breastroke.
Elyssia McClean finished first in the 100-metre breastroke, second in the 200-metre IM, and third in the 50-metre freestyle.
Morgan Metcalfe punched his ticket to provincials by placing second in the 50-metre breastroke.
Murphy placed third in the 50-metre butterfly, as well as in both the 50-metre and 100-metre freestyle events.
Hunter Thorne finished in first place in two races – the 100-metre IM and the 50-metre breastroke, as well as second place in the 50-metre backstroke.
Sherriff had a strong showing, placing second in the 50-metre breastroke, 50-metre freestyle, 100-metre freestyle, and third in the 100-metre IM.
Leif Robinson and Emma Russell also earned a spot at provincials by finishing third in the 50-metre freestyle, respectively.
The Dolphins will also be sending a handful of relay teams.
In addition to the names mentioned above, Wes Murphy, Nathan Tan, Sebastian Gylander, Carter Thorne, Lauren Russell, Malcolm Russell, Emily Kossizin, and Amelia Labonville all helped their relay teams reach a top two finish – good enough to earn a spot at the provincial championships as well.
The following swimmers all had fantastic races, and many earned themselves a coveted spot in the finals.
Congratulations to Emerson Alexander-Mitchell, Anika Crawford, Sebastian Gylander, Ella Janes, Emily Kossizin, Amelia Labonville, Katrina McClean, Wes Murphy, Malcolm Russell, Lauren Russell, Nathan Tan, Carter Thorne.
Every swimmer representing the Dolphins swam away with at least one lifetime personal best – a huge accomplishment.
The Dolphins will be heading back to Kamloops for the provincial championships from August 16 to 18, but with a change of scenery as the venue will be moving from the Brocklehurst Outdoor Pool, to the Tournament Capital Centre indoor pool.
On August 13, the Golden Dolphins Swim Club hosted its year-end potluck and awards night at the Curling Arena lounge. All family members were invited, and the club thanked volunteers, coaches, and swimmers for another great season. The event also included an all-team fun swim for the athletes.
The Golden Dolphins Swim Club is a B.C. Summer Swimming Association sanctioned swim team that trains at the Golden Municipal Swimming Pool.
The Golden Dolphins Swim Club connects swimmers, families and community in a supportive challenge-by-choice environment.
