After many years of dormancy from the Long Course season, Drumheller Aqua-Dinnies (DAD) Swim Club proves itself to be a club to contend with.
On July 1-4, seven DAD swimmers joined other qualifying swimmers from across the province as they converged on Fort McMurray for the 2011 Age Group/Senior Long Course Provincial Swim Championships at the new Syncrude Aquatics Centre. The combined efforts of all the swimmers at the Provincial Swim Championships allowed them to capture and bring home the Small Team Points Award for the second time this year. Each swimmer qualified for finals in at least half of their races, no mean feat considering the caliber of the competition and the size of our club.
The strength of the DAD swimmers was demonstrated as they continued to improve their own personal best times for their individual races. Janae Hoel (11-12) shaved almost one second of time off in her 100 back (1:22.45), 200 free (2:46.79), and 200 back (2:55.82).
Brock Hoel (10 and under) continues to be a dynamo in the water, improving on all his times and bringing home four medals for his efforts this weekend. Taking off a total of 37.86 seconds from his races, he improved on his 100 breast (1:39.03), and achieved bronze in 100 free (1:10.89), bronze in 400 free (5:32.74), silver in 200 free (2:42.45), and bronze in 200 back (2:56.39). Oh so close, he was squeezed out of medal contention in his 50 back (38.99), 100 back (1:21.83) and 50 free (33.19).
Devon Chernow (14 and under) A finalled in all his races, improving his times in 100 free (1:00.84), 100 back (1:08.21), 50 butterfly (29.42), 200 back (2:29.19) and 50 free (27.25), knocking off a total time of 5.02 seconds and bringing home a bronze for his 50 back (31.04).
Parker Knibb (14 and under) achieved personal bests in 100 free (1:00.71) and 50 free (27.32) during his leg of the 400 free relay and 200 free relay, respectively. There’s nothing like being in a relay to pump you up! Improvements were also achieved in 200 IM (2:41.33), 200 fly (2:38.77) and 50 fly (29.65), for a total time reduction of 7.24 seconds.
Alan Lister (14 and under) continues to show improvement as he also A finalled in all his races, taking off 5.77 seconds from all his events: 100 free (1:00.43), 50 back (32.86), 100 back (1:100.72), 50 fly (29.79), 50 free (27.66) and 100 fly (1:09.71).
The senior representatives from Drumheller Aqua-Dinnies included Sophia McDonald and Austin Knibb. It was a significant jump from swimming in Age Group (14 and under) to swimming with the big boys and girls in Seniors (15 and over). They did very well to final in their races and improve their times. Sophia chopped off a total time of 42.12 seconds from her swims of 200 IM (2:59.76), 50 breast (39.92), 100 breast (1:29.25), 50 butterfly (36.43), 200 breast (3:13.82) and 100 butterfly (1:29.13). Austin Knibb took off 2.95 seconds from his personal best times in 100 free (59.26), 50 back (31.63), 100 back (1:09.62), 50 fly (29.05), and 50 free (26.45).
All five boys participated in relay races for 14 and under and Seniors. Brock, Parker, Devon, and Alan swam 200 free, 200 medley, 400 free, 400 medley and 800 free relays, and finished respectable 5th, 5th, 4th, 7th and 7th places for them. Parker, Devon, and Alan also swam with Austin in Senior relays 200 free, 200 medley, 400 free, 400 medley, and 800 free races, all well swum considering most of their competitors were significantly older than they.
For those who remember the Lovsins (Doug was general manager at our local Freson IGA and Deanna was the impetus for reinstating a competitive swim club six years ago), it was great to see Emma and Victoria competing and performing well.
Austin, Parker, Alan and Devon will be heading out to Montreal for National Age Group championships July 27-31, 2011. We look forward to hearing how they perform, and expect great results. Good luck, boys!