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AAC's National, Junior National and Provincial Squads hit the
pool this weekend to compete in Eswim's Age Group International,
which is the fastest non-championships meet in the Province each
season for age group level swimmers.
Despite very little preparation, a fatigued AAC squad
demonstrated remarkable toughness, competing in a high number of
events and bringing home impressive results.
12 year old Ryan Kelly got things started by demolishing the
club record in the 200m Butterfly, formerly held by Connor
Greenley. Kelly broke the record by well over a second, and is on
pace to continue to erase Greenley from club history as the season
goes on. Kelly's time of 2:27.12 also ranks him #1 in the Nation
right now.
Julien Dodu added to his list of Club Records in both the 1500FR
and the 400FR. Dodu shaved over a minute off his previous best
time, swimming to a 16:50.85, nearly 3 seconds below the old record
set in 2005 by Dan Langlois and good for a Silver Medal. In the
final race of the meet, Dodu swam to a Gold medal and a final time
of 4:11.68, two seconds below the club record which was also held
by Langlois and set in 2005. Langlois competed in a legskin suit in
order to set both records.
Devin Ste.Marie also made her mark in the 400m Freestyle,
dropping 8 seconds and destroying the club record in a final time
of 4:28.01, good enough to win the event against a very tough field
of swimmers. Ste. Marie is also closing in on club records in the
800 and 200m Freestyle events.
15 year old Darelle Cowley continued to demonstrate her
versatility, winning a Silver medal in the 200 Breastroke, and
adding another Senior National qualifying time to her repertoire.
Cowley also reached the Top 8 in the 100BR, 200IM, 400IM and 400FR.
16 year old Nathan Lee continued his quest for a Senior National
qualifying time by season's end, placing 3rd in the both the 50FR
(25.15) and the 100FR (55.05). Zach Fedak was just off the club
record he set last season in a LZR legskin in the 200FR, finishing
3rd (1:57.21). Robert Gilchrist finalled in every event in which he
competed, highlighted by his Silver medal in the 50 Butterfly, a
time which currently ranks him #1 in Canada for 15 year old Males.
Michelle Fleming took Gold in the 200 Breastroke, swimming well
under the National Standard and only 2 over her best time performed
last season in a LZR kneeskin. 12 year old Cassidy Blackwin placed
in the Top 8 in nearly all of her swims, highlighted by a 10:10.13
in the 800m Freestyle, good for 4th spot and only 4 seconds above
the current club record. Veteran Christine Raininger won Silver in
the 400IM, in her third fastest swim ever in the event, while Alex
Andrechuk continued to show promise in the middle-distance
Freestyle events, swimming to an 8 second drop in the 800FR and a 6
second drop in the 400FR. Fellow Veteran Chris Tanouye reached the
podium several times, highlighted by his Silver Medal in the 50FR-
a very strong unrested/un-lazered time of 24.77.
AAC placed 5th overall, ahead of top teams like TSC, COBRA and
Guelph, and only slightly behind NYAC for 4th spot- all without
racing full relays and with several key scratches.
AAC's top swimmers will now continue to prepare meaningfully for
July's Championship Meets, which are approaching rapidly. They hit
the water again at the end of June at either Ontario Junior
Provincial Championships in Nepean, or Canada Cup 3 in Montreal.
Congratulations Athletes!
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