The Kitimat Marlins had four of its 6 AAA Provincial qualified swimmers attend the AAA Provincial Long Course (50 meter pool) swimming championships in Richmond. As always when attending Provincial and National level meets they joined qualified swimmers from Smithers and Prince Rupert as part of the Points North swim team. Six hundred and forty of the best swimmers of all ages from around the province were in attendance making for some extremely tough competition.
With stronger results and more AAA qualified swimmers from around the region for the first time in many, many years Points North fielded relay teams in both the 12 and under girls and 12 and under boys divisions. Zachary Dumas (12) from the Marlins in his first ever AAA Provincial meet joined with Liam McChesney, and Trey Kish from Prince Rupert as well as Luke Baraduci from Smithers to bring home Bronze medals in the 12 and under boys 200 meter Medley Relay, 200 meter and 800 meter freestyle relays. Alivia Salema (12) and Kleanza Cathers (12) from the Marlins joined with Avery Movald and Amy Leighton from Prince Rupert to win silver in the 12 and under girls 800 meter freestyle relay.
Kleanza Cathers (12) competing in the 12 year old girls division had four top 8 finishes (top 8 swimmers in each event make the finals) Her strongest result came in the 200 meter backstroke, a 5th place finish in the finals. It was Cathers best result ever at a AAA Provincial Championships. She also placed 7th in the 400 meter, 800 meter and 2 km open water freestyle events.
First year competitive swimmer Brander Pacheco (13) continued to have outstanding results for a swimmer who is brand new to the sport as he made the finals (top 8 overall) in two events in the 13 year old boy division. Pacheco finishing 6th in the 100 butterfly and 7th in the 200 butterfly respectively.
After coming back to the sport after a one year hiatus Zachary Dumas (12) continued to impress with two top 8 finishes in the 12 year old boy division. Dumas finished 7th in the 100 meter butterfly and 8th in the 200 meter butterfly.
In the bottom of her age group Alivia Salema (12) competing in the 12 year old girl division had two top 8 finishes with 8th place finishes in the 800 meter freestyle and 2 km open water swims.
