Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
Top: SETS THE RECORD 鈥� Thomas Bakica, 11, swims to a new meet record in the 200 fly Saturday at the Canada Games Centre. His time of 3:31.99 also met the B.C. AAA time standard. Bottom: MOVING ON UP 鈥� Wesley Vangel (left) races in the 50-m freestyle Saturday. The 11-year-old achieved the B.C. A standard. Emily Crist (right) achieved four A standard times of her own, in the 50 free, 200 free, 400 free and 100 back.
Whitehorse Glacier Bear swimmers splashed to success at the Yukon Championship Invitational Meet this past weekend.
Whitehorse Glacier Bear swimmers splashed to success at the Yukon Championship Invitational Meet this past weekend.
Four swimmers set new meet records, highlighting an event full of personal-best times.
The meet was "a lot of fun for all kids,鈥� swim coach Malwina Bukszowana told the Star.
"We could see plenty of best times followed by very big smiles.鈥�
The Haines Dolphins swim team sent a small group of swimmers to the meet, heightening the stakes for the鈥圷ukon swimmers.
Four young competitors set new meet records, led by 11-year-old Rennes Lindsay, who
broke Isabel Parkkari's record in the 400 IM, set in 2009.
Fellow 11-year-olds Thomas Bakica (200 fly) and Aidan Harvey (200 back) also set records, while 13-year-old Luke Bakica set a new time standard in the 50 breast.
Lindsay and Bakica each picked up six B.C. AAA time standards, with the rest of the Glacier Bear swimmers totalling 25. Meanwhile, 13-year-old Cassis Lindsay, and 11-year-olds Hannah Kingscote and Brooklyn Massie each scored five AAA swims.
The club also secured 19 AA swims and 37 A time standards.
The 13-and-over age group was won by stalwarts Cassis Lindsay and Matthew Blakesley, while Thomas Bakica was named the boys 11-12 champion.
Rennes Lindsay and Hannah Kingscote were the strongest two swimmers in the girls 11-12 category, Bukszowana added.
Donovan Bielz, 15, surprised himself by breaking the 30-second mark en route to winning the 50 free.
In the younger divisions, Ruby Lieu-Ashthorn, Luanda Pronovost and Amelia Barrault were the top finishers in the Under-10 girls division, while Christopher Blakesley, Brennan Palmieri and Liam Simons finished in the top-three of the Under-10 boys category.
The younger swimmers showed great technique improvement, Bukszowana said. "It is nice to see them moving through the water so smooth at such a young age.鈥�
The Yukon championship marked the last day in the water for the club's youngest swimmers.
Teddy Bears swimmer Liam Gishler, six, provided some of the meet's biggest smiles after finishing his 50 free and 50 back races.
Whitehorse swimmers remain enthusiastic and willing to continue with swimming, said Bukszowana.
"This sport makes them very close friends and teaches good time organization,鈥� she added.
The swim club is looking for young swimmers to join the team, from age six and up. The organization is also looking to debut a TEEN鈥坰quad, created for swimmers age 13 and older who may have left the pool for other sports, but are interested in staying fit for life.
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