The Trail Stingrays swim team returned home from the B.C. Provincial swim meet in Coquitlam last weekend with good results and personal best times.
The Stingrays went with a small contingent this year, and while the team is competitive they are always in tough against larger centres. Making a final is a great accomplishment and this year three swimmers swam in finals, while the others performed well in the consolation finals.
“I am very proud of all the stingray swimmers for giving their best effort as well as the other swimmers in our region,” said Stingray coach Samme Beatson. “What a great way to end a wonderful season.”
Johnny Hodgkins placed fifth in the Division 2, 50-metre backstroke final shaving two seconds of his preliminary swim to finish in a time of 40.11. Elijah Grebe placed eighth in Div. 5, 50-free final swimming a personal best of 27.53. He also finished 12th in 100 free, 13th in 100 breast and 19th in 50 fly
Diego Greenwood came first in the consolation final (ninth overall) in the Div. 4 100 free with a personal best of 1:05.23, and was third in the 200 Individual Medley consolation final (11th overall) reducing his previous best time by three seconds, he also had a great swim in the 50-free, cutting one second off his PB and finishing third in the consolation final with a time of 30.20
Juliana Zhou had a personal best and placed fourth in the consolation final of the Div 2 50-metre breastroke, 15th overall in 50 back, and 16th in 50 fly.
Beatson herself had three great swims placing sixth in the 50 fly, sixth in 100 back, and seventh in 100 fly finals. Her 50 metre fly was one of the closest on record as less than one second separated first and eighth place, and only three-tenths of a second separated second through eighth.
Stingray swimmers also participated on a regional relay with three other top athletes from the Kootenay region and the Div. 2 boys 200 medley relay that included the Stingrays’ Hodgkins winning a bronze medal.