Saanich Commonwealth Place was the site of the Vancouver Island Regional Championships recently, and the Ravensong Aquatic Centre Breakers were on the boil again as they finished fourth out of the field of 10 teams, (eight from the Island; two from the mainland) numbering more than 350 swimmers, on the strength of some stellar swims.
Led by longtime skipper John Campbell and assistant coach Gary Cheung, the Breakers’ took 18 swimmers to the big annual meet, many of whom turned in personal best times.
The highlight of the VIRs was Megan Romke’s electrifying swim of 2:29.34 to set a new meet record in the 200 metre Butterfly, which had not been broken for eight years.
Megan, 12, is the youngest of three Romke sisters to come up through the Breakers and is in her sixth season wtih the team.”
“Outstanding,” Campbell said of the swim, pointing out Comox’s Kate Adamson — considered one of the top age-groupers in Canada at the time — held the record she set in 2004 (for those following along at home it was shortly aftert that she joined the Breakers).
“So considering we’ve had eight VIR championships since then and it’s never been broken, and Megan comes along and not only breaks it, but smashes it by eight or nine seconds.”
“This brings Megan to within five seconds of the 30-year-old provincial record for that event,” pointed out Chueng.
The Breakers were also some tough in the team competitions, as they medaled in five of the six relay events entered:
Haley Bennett, Elysia Biro, Megan Romkes and
Joanna Redenbach teamed up to take double gold with first place finishes in the Girls 12&U 200 Medley Relay, and the 12&U 200 Freestyle relay.
Nicole Biro, Richelle Bruyckere, Maude McGibbon and Lauren Gilmour grabbed gold in the 13-14 200 Freestyle Relay, and bagged bronze in the 200 Medley Relay.
Ethan Stannard, Katie Redenbach, Sophie Lorette, and Jack Confortin pooled their efforts for a silver medal in the Mixed 10&U 200 Free Relay.
