Three Waveriders travelled to Chilliwack for the AA short course provincials: Luca Armstrong, swimming in the boys 11 and under category; Garnet Currie, representing Quesnel in the boys 14 and over category; and lone female Quesnel competitor Natasha Hanson swam in the 14 and over category.
Waverider coach Jerrit Brink had high praises for all three swimmers who attended the meet.
Armstrong’s efforts earned him a 10th place in the 100m freestyle and sixth in the 400m freestyle, as well as bringing in two personal bets times.
“I was very happy to have Luca experience the second highest swimming competition in B.C. and the fact that he’s only nine and competed against 10/11-year-olds is pretty cool too,” Brink explains.
Fourteen-year-old Currie earned four personal best times, while also taking eighth place in the 100m butterfly and the 200m individual medley.
Though Currie did not reach the podium it was a great experience for this Waverider.
“It was pretty cool. I liked the pool – it wasn’t too warm so in the 1500 your body doesn’t overheat at all, I was pretty close to triples in a lot of races,” Currie said.
Currie also had high praises for his fellow Waveriders Hanson and Armstrong.
Coach Brink notes that Currie is ‘coming alive this season’ though Brink had not expected this until June or July of this year, or possibly even the following year.
“He is now very close to four or five AAA times, but it was his last 400 individual medley that shocked me,” Brink remarked. “He showed what he can do when he believes in himself and was part of a great race in his heat.”
Big winner for the Waveriders at the event Hanson was still buzzing with the excitement of having podiumed for the first time at the short course provincials, even after making it back home.
Having earned two personal best times, one in the 50m freestyle and another in the 100m freestyle, as well earning two gold medals for these swims, the event was a resounding success.
These times qualified Hanson for the upcoming AAA provincials in March.
“Tashy nailed it big time in Chilliwack,” Brink said.
“She did it true swim style. Meaning she went for personal best times in the preliminary rounds, rested properly and then came back in the finals not only to capture gold but she collected AA level times in those races. Both races had me in suspense as one girl was right with her the whole time in both races. But Natasha pulled off some beautiful turns that sealed the deal.”
Next up for the Waveriders are the AAA provincials, B.C.’s highest level meet in Surrey. Hanson will be joined by fellow Waveriders qualifiers Lief Bradson, Logan Godsoe and Billy Swyers.