Sports

Photo: Contributed - Peter Wilkins

Molly Hill - lowering three records over the two day meet

The Kelowna AquaJets hosted its annual KAJ Fall Classic and Jamboree swim meets this past weekend at H20 with over 300 swimmers from 7 teams in the Thompson-Okanagan and Kootenay regions. The AquaJets swam 107 swimmers strong, earning top Women’s, Men’s and Overall Team Scoring titles.

“The team put in a fantastic effort on the weekend, one that all the parents and swimmers can be proud of. The swimmers swam well, and the officials ran a very well ran competition.” Says Pete Wilkins, Jets Head Coach.

This is the first of two of five meets the team will host at their home pool.

Highlighting the weekend were 8 new club records and several qualifying times. A big weekend for Molly Hill - lowering three records over the two day meet in the 400 IM and 200 Fly, both were set by teammate Clarisse Obedkoff back in 2009, as well as lowering her own mark in the 1500 Free.

Josh Zakala also lowered one of his own records in the Mens 800 Free, breaking 9 minutes for the first time with a 8:52.62. Earning the oldest record of the bunch was 10 year old Max McDonald in the 200 Back, replacing 31 years of history set by Jay Johnstone back in 1981.

The team also saw three relay records fall; two in the Mens 13-14 age category, both the 4x50 Free and Medley relays consisting of Josh Zakala, Sam Mcdonald, Ben Main, Noah Robertson and Kjel Cartier. While the 10 and under Womens team made their splash in the Free relay with Taylor Desrosier, Hallie Jenkins, Molly Hill and Lochlyn Scott. Clarisse Obedkoff earned her third standard for Age Group Championships in the 200 Fly on Saturday night, earning her qualification to the meet in Montreal in July.

In the Jamboree on Sunday night, four AquaJets made their first regional qualifying time, breaking the 4 minute mark in the 200m IM. Erin Epp, Cally Melnyk, Kaelyn Willms and Kael Murphy are now able to compete at regional level competitions.

AquaJets with 100% best times were: Sabrina Akins, Nicola Crichton, Megan Elkin, Sam Hayes, Lucy Hill, Hallie Jenkins, Dafne Kaynak, Evan Kohnke, Bobbi-Jo MacMillan, Miya MacNeil, Ben Main, Max McDonald, Sam McDonald, Cailin McNeely, Cally Melnyk, Julia Michl, Theo Mohamed, Julia Petrie, Amelia Rachkowski, Ella Rolleston, Noah Rubliak, Lochlyn Scott, Tegin Shefsky, Brynn Terris and Kaelyn Willms.

In three weeks time the Jets will be off to Kamloops to swim at the Ice Classic, the Falls most competitive competition with over 600 swimmers from Western Canada attending. For more information visit the Jets online.