Members of the Langley Olympians Swim Club took home a pool-full of medals from a provincial-level competition in Chilliwack recently.
The LOSC athletes were among the 400 swimmers who converged on the Chilliwack Leisure Landing Centre from Feb. 28 to March 2, for the 2014 Swim BC Short Course (25-metre pool) AA Championships.
The meet was hosted by the Chilliwack Spartans Swim Club.
Most of these swimmers competing – including 12 LOSC members – were seeking their first AAA times to qualify for B.C. AAA championships.
The Langley swimmers raced exceptionally, and many made the finals and won medals.
Regan Bedard, 11, won silver in the 11 & under girls 100m breaststroke while achieving AAA times in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke events.
Danielle de la Gorgendiere, 14, swam to silver in the 14 & over girls 200m backstroke.
Karl Hallquist, 17, garnered gold in the 14 & over 100m freestyle, silver in the 200m IM, 100m fly, and 200m freestyle, and bronze in the 400m freestyle.
Ryan Hunter, 10, won silver in the 11 & under boys 200m backstroke as well as achieving AAA times in the 100m backstroke, 400m freestyle, and 200m backstroke.
One-hundred-per-cent best times were achieved by Regan Bedard, Ryan Hunter, and Dylan Thomas.
Swimmers with two or more AAA times are now qualified for the provincial AAA championship meet this summer.
LOSC assistant head coach Shane Downey said it was an exciting weekend of racing.
“The swimmers have all been training hard for this meet and it showed in their performances in the water,†he said. “I am so proud of them all. Well done to my two new AAA qualifiers.â€
LOSC swimmers are now heading into the long course (50m pool) season after finishing their short course on a high note.
Pair leads LOSC at Westerns
Led by medal winners Hillary Metcalfe and Justin Schramm, LOSC members shared pool space with the best in Western Canada in mid-February.
The 2014 Western Canadian Championships were held over four days at Canada Games Pool in New Westminster.
The meet drew 540 top age group and senior swimmers from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. who competed in the following age categories: 15 and under and 16 and over for females, and 16 and under, and 17 and over for males.
Twelve swimmers carried the LOSC banner at this competition, including Hillary Metcalfe, Martha Metcalfe, Joshua Franklin, Alysse Franklin, Justin Schramm, Chelsea Borrowdale, Robyn Nakano, Kennedy Douglas, Kelley MacDonald, Siobhan Board, Renae Ledoux, and Gabby Szalkai.
Each one had achieved a qualifying time to participate in this prestigious and challenging meet – and all had to bring their “A†game in the heats to gain a place in the finals.
Winning medals for Langley were a pair of 15-year-olds.
Hillary Metcalfe won silver in the 200m breaststroke and bronze in 50m breaststroke in the 15 & under age group.
Justin Schramm took bronze in the 16 & under 400m freestyle.
Hillary also made finals in the 100m breaststroke, 400m IM, and 200m IM, while Justin made finals in the 800m freestyle and 200m fly.
A number of LOSC swimmers made finals, just missing out on a place on the podium.
They included Chelsea Borrowdale, 14, in the 15 & under 200m breaststroke; Joshua Franklin, 18, in the 17 & over 200m and 400m freestyle swims; Renae Ledoux, 14, in the 15 & under 50m and 100m breaststroke events; and Robyn Nakano, 14, in the 15 & under 100m fly.
LOSC registration is ongoing.
Call 604-532-5257 or visit langleyolympians.com.
You can also follow the club on Twitter @LangleyOlympian