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The Northern Novas competitive synchronized swim team of Jamie Duke and Katelyn Vowk impressed their coach in Saskatoon last week.

Unfortunately, improvements in their scores didn't mean much against their rivals from across the country.

The Whitehorse duo finished last at the 2014 Canadian Open Championship in Saskatchewan.

In what was their first-ever national competition, Duke, 16, and Vowk, 13, went up against 182 opponents in figures, and 28 in duets.

"They did really well in that they improved their duet score by over four points from their previous competition in Lethbridge, and it was a good experience in getting them towards the Canada Winter Games next year,鈥濃�坋xplained Duke's mom, Shannon. "That being said, they placed last.鈥�

The event saw swimmers aged 16 to 18 complete their top two routines in front of the judges.

Duke and Vowk were two of the youngest swimmers competing.

In the junior figures event, Duke finished 160th with 55.77 points, while Vowk was right behind her, picking up 54.66 points.

In the junior duet preliminaries the day following, the duo placed 24th.

"This was their first-ever national meet and they did excellent,鈥� coach Aura-lea Harper told the Star.

"They didn't place, but had the best swim for their routine they have ever done.鈥�

The championship saw teams from Spain, Australia, Greece and Kazakhstan take on Canada's best, Harper explained.

Last month, the team competed in the Wildrose Classic in Lethbridge, Alta., placing fourth and missing out on a bronze medal by 1.1 points.

The duo, which are swimming with the ultimate goal of competing in next year's Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C., will now take a break from the pool for two weeks before resuming training.