The Kitimat Marlins had five swimmers who qualified and attended the AAA Provincial Long Course (50 meter pool) swim championships over the weekend of July 13.
The Marlins swimmers competed as part of Points North swim association, an association made up of swimmers from Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Terrace and Smithers.
The AAA Provincials is the highest Provincial level swim meet with the best swimmers aged 10 through until their mid-twenties in attendance.
This year’s championship was held at UBC and was the largest swim meet in BC history with over 690 swimmers in attendance.
Brander Pacheco (14) joined forces with Tanner and Bailey Espersen from Smithers and Trey Kish from Prince Rupert to take a Silver medal for Points North in the 13-14 boys 4 X 100 meter Medley Relay.
All swimmers on the team were well below their personal best times and narrowly out touched the bronze medal team Canadian Dolphins from Vancouver by a mere 2/100ths of a second.
Pacheco also finished fourth in the 14 year old boy 400 meter Individual medley, eight in the 100 butterfly and 200 backstroke.
Kleanza Cathers (13) had her best result in the 13 year old girls 800 meter freestyle placing fifth. Her time was her third qualifying time for the Far Western Championships, USA’s biggest age group swim meet, in San Jose California allowing her to compete in the competition which was to be held at the end of the month.
Alivia Salema (13) also made the finals (top 8) for the 13 year old girl 200 breaststroke with a whopping 27 second improvement. She finished seventh in the event.
Ben Anker (14) competing in his first ever AAA Provincials had his highest placing in the 14 year old boy 200 meter backstroke a 10th place finish. Anker swam 100 per cent long course personal best times at the meet.
Kyler Corderio (18) competing in his last Provincial Championship as a Marlin as he has just graduated had his best result in the 16 and over 1500 meter freestyle, a 13th place finish.
– Submitted
