The Terrace Bluebacks had an impressive showing in the Northwest Regional Swimming Championship that took place from Jan 24-26 in Terrace.
They narrowly finished second in a field that included the Kitimat Marlins, Prince Rupert Rapids, Quesnel Wave Riders and the Bulkley Valley Otters. The Rapids finished first with a combined score of 993 to the Blueback's 862.
"One thing that blew me away was how so many of our athletes achieved new personal best times or new divisional times in their qualifying race and then ended up improving on those times again in the finals," said assistant coach Vincent Calkins.
"Our kids put so much time into swimming with the early morning and Saturday practices, so they are all pretty proud of their times because it is quite a high standard. You have to swim really fast," he added.
Five swimmers finished as medallists.
Marie-Aude Chouinard won gold for girls 11 and under. Chouinard had four first-place finishes and three second-place finishes in the seven events she competed in, six of which she achieved best times for herself. She finished the 800m freestyle in 12:46, improving her best time by 1:07. She also got her first divisional time for the 100m breaststroke.
Divisional times are standard times set for swimmers to qualify for divisional meets, such as the upcoming Winter Divisionals North and Interior from Feb. 21-23.
Eyad Elserty (11) snagged silver for boys 11 and under. He had four first-place finishes and three second-place finishes, including finishing the 100m backstroke in 1:29, 11 seconds better than his best time.
Reed Downs (13) took home gold for boys 12-13, finishing first in all of his events for a perfect score. He also set a new divisional time for himself in the 800m freestyle of 10:56, 20 seconds better than his best time.
Xavier Grielens (12) won bronze for boys ages 12-13, making the finals in all of his events. He already had divisional times in the 1500m freestyle and 50m breaststroke and improved upon them at the meet
MacGregor Lambright (15) won bronze for boys 14 and over, finishing first in the 1500m freestyle, 50m breaststroke and 50m backstroke with new personal best times. He also made the finals in all of his events. Lambright's 1500m freestyle time of 21:33 was over three minutes better than his previous best.
Coming off a broken collar bone, Noah Grielens (15) finished fourth among boys 14 and over. He also made the finals in all of his events.
Paige Constantenescu (14) finished fourth among girls 14 and over. She was the youngest swimmer among the top five in her category. Constantenescu already had division times in the 50m backstroke and 50m fly, but bested those times at the meet. She holds divisional times in 11 events.
Other swimmers who impressed were Carter Primosch (15), Maelle Calkins (12) and Zion Girard (14). Primosch took first in the boys 14 and over 800m freestyle and made five finals with three second place finishes.
Calkins achieved divisional times in five new events (1500m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 400m individual medley, 200m individual medley and 100m freestyle), giving her nine divisional times in total.
Girard made the finals in all of her events in the 14 and over girls category, including five new best times.
Six Bluebacks swimmers will be competing at the Winter Divisionals North and Interior, including Calkins, Constantenescu, Zion Girard (14), Xavier Greilins and Gabe Ungerhojer (15), who did not compete in this meet as he was away in Prince George for training camp. Ungerhojer holds divisional times in nine events.
"I think we're going to see good things out of them at divisionals," said the assistant coach. "Their times just keep getting faster. I see the drive in swimmers like Gabe, Maelle and Paige at every single practice. They always ask what they can do better, how can they push harder. It's awesome.
