The Kelowna AquaJets were in fine form for the first meet of the competitive swimming season.
Provincial qualifying standards and best times were set as 48 KAJ swimmers took part in the Penticton Pentahlon.
"It was so much fun to see the AquaJets compete for the first time this season,"said Jets assistant coach coach Stefan Pripoae "The Pentathlon is a wildly different and extremely fun meet. Getting to see the resilience of the swimmers over three days was quite impressive”. Swimming all 15 events were iron swimmers Ella Rolleston, Brandon Mullin, Megan Elkin, Taylor Desrosier, Molly Hill, Axana Merckx, Brooklyn Semashkewich and Jasper Stone .
Isla O’Connor and Sara Gray, both 10, placed second overall on the Friday and Saturday respectively. Also placing in the overall standings were Andrea Kraetzer who took second overall on Sunday and Brandon Mullin who was second overall on Saturday.
Meanwhile senior swimmers, Molly Hill and Axana Merckx, placed first and third overall for all 3 days.
Six swimmers achieved their AA provincial time qualification standards—Ethan Gray, Julianna Gallagher, Makenna Haight, Matthew MacDonald, Cameron McInnes and Rachel McInnes.
Twenty-eight swimmers achieved personal best times in all the events they entered at this meet. From the bronze group, Isla O’Connor, Athina Merckx, Landon Tew, Sara Gray, Aiden Kirk and Noah Kruetsky (14) swam to 100 per cent best times.
From the silver group, shout outs to Emma Berg, Abigail Jerome, Kitana Bright, Easton Hoisington, Sofia Faccini, Noah Semashkewich, and Markkus and Gabe Widing for their 100 per cent best times.
Thirteen gold group swimmers bettered their previous best times. Megan Allan, Olivia Courtenay, Makenna Haight, Lucy Hill, Andrea Kraetzer, Rachel McInnes, Juliana Gallagher, Johnny Ekinci, Matthew MacDonald, and Cameron and Rachel McInnes. Rounding up the 28 swimmers was Paige Foster from the platinum group.
Next up for the Jets are the Vernon Fall Meet and the KAJ Fall Classic and Jamboree.
Liquid Lightning…
New club records were set and plenty of best times posted, as the Liquid Lightning Swim Club sent 24 swimmers to the their first meet of the season, the Penticton Pentathlon.
Pierson Piche swam to a second overall placing, setting 11 new club records. Maxime Cousnard swam to 100 per cent best times and also set eight new club records.
Those who swam to 100 per cent best times were Madison Seeley, Breagh Bridge, Kaleigh Reese, Samantha Pringle, Jacklyn Pengilly , Liam Collie and Kaitie Mcconechy.
Those swimmers who swam to just one shy of 100 peer cent best were Livia Utigard, Victoria Koehle, Enrica Guidi and Ashlinn Salverda.
Big time drops were had by Christina Wright, Ava Toyata, Quin Toyata, Georgia Pengilly and Olivia Mikkelsen.
Strong swims were also had by Marc Toyata who set six new club records, Alexandra Strobel, Cameron Mcconechy, Emma Mackenzie, Gabrielle Hanvold and Dylan DaSilva.
There were also five 5 LLSC swimmers who attended the first jamboree in Penticton. Jackson Bartlett, Emma Lecompte, Quinlan Macaulay, Jacob Piche and Noella Quadri all swam to best times and are looking forward to the next meet beginning of November in Vernon.