麻豆社区

While no Yukon swimmers took home medals from Victoria, B.C. last weekend, each of the 17 Whitehorse Glacier Bear swimmers attending did show improvements.

The 11th annual Christmas Cracker swim meet took place at Saanich Commonwealth Place.

Swim sisters Rennes and Cassis Lindsay led the way for the Glacier Bears, with Rennes, 11, qualifying for six finals (two A-level) and Cassis, 13, swimming in five (three A-level).

Rennes also snagged seven AAA鈥坱imes, while Cassis swam five AAA qualifying times.

"It opened our eyes, to be honest,鈥� Glacier Bears head coach Malwina Bukszowana said of the Christmas Cracker meet. "I know Victoria and B.C. are very strong in swimming 鈥� they're one of the strongest 鈥� so it was good to watch them.鈥�

Regardless of the medal count, the competitive atmosphere helped up the ante for the Glacier Bear swimmers, Bukszowana explained.

"For sure, it's more adrenaline for them and it's easier for them to focus in a racing environment,鈥� she said, before praising her students for working hard to implement the advice received from their coaches.

"They really focus on the little details,鈥濃�坰aid Bukszowana. "They improve their strokes, so mostly I wasn't really looking at the times. I was looking at how they looked in the water. I can say they look much better, more smooth, and the times are hugely improved.鈥�

Eleven-year-olds Aidan Harvey and Dannica Nelson also qualified for one B final each, while Hannah Kingscote was twice a B-final alternate 鈥� something Bukszowana called "a big achievement.鈥�

Kingscote and Harvey earned three AAA times, while Luke Bakica grabbed two.

Many other swimmers also showed vast improvements, including 11-year-old Brooklyn Massie, who beat all of her previous-best times and swam her 800 Free 25 seconds faster than she did at the Ryan Downing Memorial Meet last month, earning one of her two AAA times.

Massie learned a tough lesson in her 400 IM however. While she showed strong technique in the race, she was disqualified for moving on the starting block.

Matthew Blakesley, 13, earned a AAA time in the 400 IM, while Bukszowana said 10-year-old Alex Petriw has shown the biggest improvements since September.

"He looked really nice in the water, amazing compared to where he was in September,鈥� Bukszowana said. "He's our little fighter.鈥�

The coach also lauded the Kodiak, Polar Bear and Silvertip swimmers who continue to keep working hard while having fun.