Records fell and multiple medals were won as the Kelowna AquaJets Swim Club turned in a strong team effort competed at the MJB Classic meet, Dec. 9 to 11 in Kamloops.
In a field of more than 600 swimmers from 18 different clubs, the Jets placed third overall.
Eight KAJ club records were broken over the course of the weekend with senior swimmer, Christina Russo, 21, leading the way.
She bettered the previous records in the open category in the 50 and 100 freestyle in times of 26.70 and 58.12, respectively.
Russo was also strong in the butterfly taking the 50 fly open record in a time of 27.56 and the 200 fly in a time of 2:19.73.
Teammate Molly Hill, 15, broke two records in the 50 fly (29.89) and the 200 fly (2:22.91) in the 15 – 17 age group category.
Rounding out the record breaking swims were Paige Foster, 14, in the 50 breaststroke in a time of 35.11 and Erin Epp, 12, in the 200 breast in a time of 2:52.72.
Kelowna swimmers also picked up eight new AA standards and seven AAA standards. As a result of their efforts at the meet, both Abigail Jerome, 11, and Rachel McInnes, 13, now have the required three AAA standards and have qualified to attend AAA Provincials.
For Jerome, her third AAA time came in the 50 free in a time of 30.26 while McInnes posted new AAA standards in 100 free, 100 back and 100 fly.
Meanwhile Kitana Bright, 13, qualified for AA provincials with her swims in the 100 breast and 200 breast.
Also swimming to new AAA standard times were Flyn Huber , 12, in the 100 fly and Marli Gallagher, 15, in the 100 breast. Huber also achieved his AA time in 200 backstroke.
New AA standards were also posted by Taylor Desrosier in 100 breast, Keaton Russell in 200 back, Megan Allan in 100 free, Ethan Gray in 400IM and Evan Kohnke in 400IM.
Swimmers Andrea Kraetzer, Kitana Bright and Kaden Madge, all 12, completed the weekend having achieved best times in all the events entered.
Erin Epp, 12, led the Jets on the podium with eight medals. She took the gold medal in 100 breast, silver in 50 and 200 breast and 100 fly, and bronze in 200IM, 100 free, 50 free and 200 free.
Andrea Kraetzer , 12, brought home five medals with gold in 50 back, and bronze in 50 fly and 50, 100 and 200 breast.
Other multi-medallists on the girls’ side were Christina Russo with a golden sweep of the fly races (50, 100 and 200 fly) and bronze in 50 free; Axana Merckx , 15, with bronze in 100 breast and 200IM; and Paige Foster with silver in 50 breast and bronze in 100 breast.
Rounding out the medallists for the girls were Sara Gray, 10, with silver in the breast, Clara Dickieson, 14, with bronze in 200 breast and Brooklyn Semashkewich, 14, with bronze in 100 fly.
On the boy’s side, Flyn Huber wrapped up a strong meet with five medals, taking second in 200IM and 100 fly and three bronze medals in 100 free, 50 fly and 200 free.
Noah Semashkewich, 12, won silver in the 100 breast while Keaton Russell, 12, and Brandon Mullin, 14, won bronze in 50 back and 400IM respectively.
