麻豆社区

Four Yukon swimmers turned in a mighty performance at the Canadian Masters Swimming Championships in Nepean, Ont. last weekend.

The swimmers 鈥� members of the Whitehorse Glacier Bears' masters Grizzlies program 鈥� took home six medals and finished with a final team ranking of 47 out of 121.

Marsh Lake's Mary Anne Myers, Tagish's Paul Dabbs, and Whitehorse swimmers Angie MacNeil and Therese Lindsay attended the meet representing the Yukon.

The four-day meet ran from May 17 to 20.

"I had a pretty good meet,鈥� Myers told the Star. "I got two silvers and two bronze.鈥�

The 58-year-old finished second in both the 400-metre free (5:27.06) and the 200-metre back (2:59.64), and third in the 200-metre IM (3:01.56) and 100-metre back (1:24.52).

Myers explained she was in an off year, being in the top age bracket of her 55-59 age division, so she wasn't expecting gold.

"For me, my training wasn't up to par as I normally would do, but it was all fun and good,鈥� she explained. "It was a pretty cool thing to go to and be a part of.鈥�

MacNeil, 45, finished third in the 100-metre fly (1:19.86) and secured three fourths 鈥� 100-metre breast (1:31.81), 200-metre free (2:34.26), and 50-metre free (31.73).

She also picked up a fifth in the 50-metre breast (42.51), a seventh in the 50-metre fly (35.38) and eighth in the 100-metre free (1:09.97). She swam in the 45-49 age category.

MacNeil said Yukon swimmers are a rare commodity at these major meets.

"It keeps us young,鈥� she said. "It's a sport we can do forever, and it's always impressive to be there. It's still very competitive all through the age groups. That's always inspiring to see.鈥�

Competing in the 50-54 age group, Lindsay, age 53, finished eighth in the 50-metre back (42.13), ninth in the 200-metre back (3:17.94) and 10th in the 100-metre back (1:30.68).

Dabbs, 66, competed in the 65-69 age group and picked up a silver medal in the 50-metre free, with a time of 31.29.

While the national event included long days at the pool, the team did make time to see the Parliament buildings in nearby Ottawa.

"It's a social trip as much as it is an athletic trip,鈥� MacNeil admitted. "We always enjoy ourselves at the pool and outside the pool as well.鈥�

The meet marked the fourth national meet for both MacNeil and Myers, while Lindsay attended for her second time.

The trio swam competitively in their younger years. Dabbs attended as a rookie.

Myers, currently a Cubs swim coach and owner of the Polar Swim Shop, said she is honoured to bring the Yukon colours to masters meets.

"The more I do it, the more I love it,鈥� she said. "I've done this for quite a long time and I'm usually on my own. Now we're actually bringing a team, so that's kind of cool.鈥�

Masters swim events feature athletes ranging from 18 to 84.

A total of 863 swimmers took part in the final meet of the season.