AquaJets shine at first meet

Photo: Contributed

The sun shone on the Kelowna AquaJets Swim Club as they hosted their first swim meet of the season from November 21 – 22 at H2O. From the youngest swimmers competing in their first meet to the veterans of the team, Head Coach, Emil Dimitrov was pleased with the team’s performance.

That performance was highlighted by a strong meet from 14 year old, Axana Merckx who had 100% best times while achieving Westerns qualifying times in 3 events; 50 (31.65) and 100 backstroke (1:01.04) and 200 IM (2:28.00). Teammate, Emily Epp (15) showed great endurance gaining a Westerns time of her own in the longest event contested in swimming, the 1500m freestyle in a time of 18:17.06. Also achieving new qualifying times for the AAA Provincials was 13 year old, Taylor Desrosier in 100 back (1:13.48), 200 back (2:39.52) and 50 butterfly (30.89).

AA Provincial times were turned in by Kaden Madge (50 free and 50 back), Ella Rolleston (200 fly and 200 IM), Erin Epp (200 IM),Kelbrai Mellum (200 breast), Lucy Hill (200 IM), Aaron Hong (100 breast) and Johnny Ekinci (50 and 400 free).

On Sunday afternoon it was the turn of the Jamboree level swimmers to shine. This was the largest jamboree ever hosted by KAJ with 178 participants including an amazing 88 swimmers representing the home team. For these young swimmers, this was an opportunity to settle their nerves and put into practice their newly acquired skills. Four swimmers earned their sub 4 minute 200 IM time, an important milestone for these young jets as it allows them to move up to compete in main meets. Congratulations to Cheyanne Gravelle (9) in a time of 3:56.15, Sylvie Boschman (9) in 3:56.97, Jessica Kim (11) in 3:45.71 and Omer Kaynak (12) in 3:50.27.

Up next for the AquaJets are meets in mid-December in Edmonton for the senior swimmers, and Kamloops for the rest of the competitive swimmers, while the jamboree swimmers head to West Kelowna in early December for their next meet.