The short course season has come to an end for the Kootenay Swim Club and swimmers returned home with medals around their necks from meets earlier this month.
Jordan Andrusak did not disappoint at AAAs in Surrey at the beginning of March. Waves were made when Andrusak swam three age group championship times in 200m and 400m freestyle and 200m IM and received two bronze medals for her freestyle. This is a big achievement for Andrusak because she is one of the youngest swimmers to achieve this goal. Most swimmers who receive age group championship times are 13 and older.
This also opens up a great opportunity for Andrusak to compete against swimmers from across Canada at the age group championships being held in Calgary during July. She will be swimming against some of the country’s best.
Niallan Collier will be joining Andrusak after he swam three best times at AAAs and qualified for age group championships in 200m IM. All of Collier’s hard work is paying off. He is starting the long course season off on the right foot and is in prime condition.
Gabrielle Hanvold was unstoppable at AAs swim meet held at the end of February with six best times, dropping four seconds off in 200m fly and 31 seconds off her best time in 400m IM.
Hanvold’s hard work did not go unrecognized and she received three gold medals for 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly and 400m IM. Her hard work paid off and she qualified for AAAs.
The Kootenay Swim Club is now training for the long course season. The swim meets will be held in 50m pools throughout BC and coaches Dustin Boychek and Tom Carew will be adjusting the swimmers’ training methods to prepare for the longer distances.
Both coaches are looking forward to the next four months of training, the swimmers are strong and very focused. This is going to be an exciting long course season.