The Selkirks’ Swim Club team travelled to the new national training centre at UBC March 16-18 for the Swim B.C. Senior Open, making a great impression as their swimmers proceeded to break 34 club records in the process during their first time at the pool.
The 2018 Senior Open marks the first time someone from the club has won a senior B.C. title.
James Lebuke, 16, swam an amazingly fast 50-meter freestyle with a time of 24.18 seconds. During the meet Lebuke also placed fourth in the 100-m, 200-m and 400-m freestyle events. All the swims were national qualifying times and they were all club records both in the heats and the finals. During the three-day meet Lebuke also made finals in the 50 breast, 100 breast and 200 breast stroke.
Maggie Manning, 18, had a brilliant meet, breaking all the para club records in every event she swam. She won gold in the 50-m and 100-m freestyle events. She also took silver in the 400-m freestyle and 100-m back stroke as well as a bronze for the 100-m breast stroke.
One of the big highlights for the Selkirks’ was getting the news that Ethan Skofteby has been chosen to swim for the BC Provincial team in May at the Prospects West swim meet. This high-level meet will see all the top age-group swimmers face off and race to decide the best team in Western Canada. The event will also have a three-day training camp beforehand.
During the meet, Skofteby broke the club records in 800-m freestyle, 50-m and 100-m back stroke events. He also made the finals in 100-m and 200-m freestyle. This is the first time Ethan has made the finals in a senior event.
For Hunter Stewardson, 14, this event was a major step up in swimming. She has had to adjust to swimming in an Olympic size pool as well as facing competitors up to 12 years older. Coach Barry Healey was impressed with her progress as she went on to place fourth in the 50-m breast stroke, eighth in the 100-m and ninth in the 200-m. This was a great experience for Stewardson and Coach Healey says that with hard work and dedication she could go a long way.
Molly Fogarty, 16, followed up her fast swimming in the previous meet with some great swims at UBC, winning her first senior medal in the 1500-m freestyle. Fogarty also qualified for the western nationals in the 200-m and 400-m fly events.
(Submitted by Barry Healey)