The Athabasca Rapids Swim Club competed in its first long course meet of the season April 26–27 in Sherwood Park and saw several swimmers take top-three finishes at the event, which drew close to 200 swimmers.
For the Rapids, Bo Maier took silver in fastest times overall in 50-metre events for boys 10-11 and third in the 100-metre freestyle. Zachary Sikora took silver for the fastest time overall in 50-metre events in the nine-and-under boys category. Sikora also took third in the 100-metre breast stroke and 50-metre fly.
Other Rapids landing top-three finishes were Avery Kamelchuk, taking second in the 100-metre fly for the 10-and-under girls, and Makayla Sheppard, who placed third in the 100-metre individual medley for the 12-and-under girls. Sheppard’s times qualified her for provincials, which will take place June 13-15 in Fort McMurray.
“All of them are improving substantially,” said head coach Hilary McLean. “We still have to keep going hard, and I expect to see more improvement,” she said, predicting many of the swimmers will be able to shave seconds off their times and reach provincial levels.
The Rapids will dive into the Kinsmen Sports Centre in Edmonton for the Silver Tide Long Course event May 24-25, which will see approximately 400 swimmers compete.
