Nine Quesnel Sealions swimmers will be making their mark at the British Columbia Summer Swimming Association (BCSSA) championships, taking place Aug. 14-20 in Kamloops.
The local summer swim club attended the BCSSA regionals in Prince George on Aug. 5-6, where Lauren Larsen, Natalie Bergeron, Owen Larsen, Shawn Fisher, Lauren Pastachak, Casey Fisher, Audrey Jespersen, Lucy Jespersen and Bailey McGillivray all qualified to compete at the provincial championships in Kamloops in their respective divisions.
All the Sealions swimmers in attendance at regionals swam against clubs from all over northern B.C. In order to qualify for the BCSSA championships, they had to compete in four events and place in the top three regionally, or swim a provincial qualifying time (PQT).
Quesnel’s swimmers brought home a wealth of medals, and the Sealions’ Division 5 girls (who are aged 13.5 to 15) were particularly strong, breaking records with their fast times.
Audrey Jespersen broke the Division 5 Girls 200-metre individual medley record, and the Sealions’ Girls Division 5 relay team, including Lauren Pastachak, Casey Fisher, Lucy Jespersen and Audrey Jespersen, broke the Division 5 200-metre individual medley relay record, as well as the Division 5 200-metre freestyle relay record.
The provincial championships in Kamloops this week mark the final meet of the season for Quesnel’s Sealions Swim Club.
Division 1 (eight and under)
Madison Lindblom won gold in 50-metre freestyle; and silver in 100-metre freestyle.
Juandre Labuschagne won silver in 50-metre backstroke; bronze in 50-metre freestyle; and bronze in 100-metre individual medley.
Division 2 (nine-10.5 years old)
Lauren Larsen won gold in 50-metre butterfly; and came sixth in 50-metre breaststroke; and seventh in 50-metre freestyle.
Ava McGillivray won silver in 50-metre freestyle; silver in 100-metre freestyle; silver in 100-metre individual medley; and bronze in 50-metre breaststroke.
Jacob Mckenzie placed fifth in 100-metre freestyle.
Division 3 (10.5-12 years old)
Natalie Bergeron won gold in 50-metre butterfly; gold in 50-metre breaststroke; gold in 100-metre individual medley; and silver in 50-metre freestyle.
Division 4 (12-13.5 years old)
Taylor McGillivray won gold in 50-metre freestyle; gold in 100-metre backstroke; silver in 100-metre freestyle; and placed fourth in 100-metre breaststroke.
Maddy Nixon placed sixth in 50-metre freestyle; and eighth in 100-metre backstroke.
Owen Larsen won gold in 100-metre backstroke; gold in 200-metre individual medley; silver in 100-metre freestyle; and bronze in 100-metre breaststroke.
Shawn Fisher won gold in 50-metre butterfly; gold in 50-metre freestyle; gold in 100-metre freestyle; and silver in 100-metre breaststroke.
Division 5 (13.5-15 years old)
Audrey Jespersen won gold in 50-metre freestyle; gold in 100-metre freestyle; gold in 100-metre backstroke; and gold in 200-metre individual medley.
Lucy Jespersen won gold in 100-metre butterfly; silver in 50-metre butterfly; bronze in 100-metre freestyle; and placed fourth in 50-metre freestyle.
Casey Fisher won gold in 100-metre breaststroke; bronze in 50-metre freestyle; bronze in 50-metre butterfly; and placed fourth in 100-metre freestyle.
Lauren Pastachak won gold in 50-metre butterfly; silver in 50-metre freestyle; silver in 100-metre freestyle; and silver in 100-metre backstroke.
Division 6 (15-16 years old)
Megan Pastachak won gold in 100-metre backstroke; silver in 100-metre freestyle; silver in 200-metre individual medley; and bronze in 100-metre breaststroke.
Olivia Crocker won gold in 50-metre freestyle; gold in 50-metre butterfly; gold in 100-metre butterfly; and gold in 100-metre breaststroke.
Division 7 (17-19 years old)
Baylee McGillivray won gold in 50-metre freestyle; gold in 50-metre butterfly; gold in 100-metre butterfly; and gold in 100-metre breaststroke.