Going against the best swimmers in B.C. And Alberta, the Greater Trail Swim Club (GTSC) had an amazing meet in Kamloops last week.
Each of seven Trail swimmers swam personal bests at the Kamloops Classic, highlighted by a gold medal breaststroke swim by Eden Kormendy. The 12-year-old swimmer also took silver in the 100-metre breaststroke and bronze in the 50-m. and made age-group national standards in her medal swims, qualifying her for the nationals in Montreal in July.
Maddie Green also had a sensational meet, swimming seven personal bests as well as making the AAA provincial standard times. Her relay split of 27.73 was the fastest freestyle swim ever recorded by a female Kootenay swimmer.
“That time would put her near the top of any university swim team and will catch the eye of many college and university coaches,” said GTSC coach Cody Flegel.
Dylan Kormendy made five A finals in the 11-12 age category despite being only nine-years old. Aby Elwood smashed her previous personal bests as she swam to four A finals, while Jennifer Chung set five personal bests, making the AAA standard in the 100 and 200 m. Breaststroke, including breaking the 1:20-mark in the 100-metre swim.
Martin Gonzalez also qualified for multiple A finals along with making the AAA provincial standard in the 50-m free, the 100 free, and he 100 butterfly.
Eric Gonzalez flew through the water in the 50-butterfly coming nine-one-hundredths of a second from making the Western Canadian nationals, but still meeting the AAA provincial standard.
“Being that close to the time standard gives me a good goal for the next meet,” says Eric.
The field of some 500 swimmers included national champions and ex-Olympians, so for the local swimmers to compete with the best in the west was a huge accomplishment, says Flegel.
“After months of hard training they peaked perfectly and made a big name for themselves competing against teams from all over BC and Alberta.”