Kierra Smith led a group of five Liquid Lightning swimmers at the 2012 Canadian Olympic Swim trials in Montreal last weekend.
The Lightning found themselves in the pool with over 900 swimmers such as Annamay Pierce and Brent Hayden vying for a berth on the Canadian Olympic Swim Team.
Smith, 18, found herself tied for second place going into the A Final in the women’s 200 metre breaststroke. Despite swimming an Olympic qualifying time of 2:26.73. Smith touched the wall fourth in the event in which only the two fastest qualified swimmers would make the team. Smith broke her own club record and was just over a second from qualifying for this summer’s Olympics.
Smith also swam a personal best in the B finals of the 400-m Individual Medley to finish in the top 10 and break her own club record.
She also made the B final in the 100-m breast.
David Dimitrov, 20, swam to all personal best times with a club record 4:24.04 in the 400 IM A final to finish fourth. Dimitrov also made the A final in the 200 IM to finish fifth and 200 butterfly to finish sixth, setting two club records. He swam in the B final of the 100 fly for a club record.
Chalene Ryan, 21, swam a personal best 2:11.02 in the 200 free and broke Sarah Mackay’s girls 15 and over club record from 2009.
Jenn Short, 17, swam a personal best in the 100 breast.
Craig Mathieson was one of 96 12 to 14 year old swimmers from Western Canada invited to the Prospects West camp in Montreal. Mathieson soaked up all the excitement from Olympic trials, received educational talks and trained in pool sessions.
