A pair of swimmers qualifying for the World Championship Trials highlighted the Winskill Dolphins performance at the recent 2013 Western Canadian Championships in wintery Saskatoon.
The event is considered the fastest "senior" meet on the competitive calendar, as the swimmers are divided into youth (15-and-under girls and 16-and-under boys) and open categories. The Dolphins sent an elite 11-member squad who garnered great success.
A year after not placing in the top 16 or seeing any second swims, the meet proved to be a big splash for 15-year-old Markus Thormeyer. He led the Dolphin charge by making the finals in all 10 of his events and winning three medals, including gold in the 400 metre individual medley. Thormeyer broke three senior boys club records - 50 and 100m backstroke twice - and his 100 back time of 56.64 seconds qualifies him to compete at the World Championship Trials in Victoria come April.
Nunu Singh (15) also qualified for World Trials in the 50m backstroke, placing fourth in the 15 and under "A" final. Her time of 29.67 seconds broke the senior girls club record. Singh raced best times and "A" final performances in the 100m and 200m butterfly as well, placing seventh and ninth respectively.
Other highlights included: Kiersten Gilberg (14) posted best times in both 50m and 100m 15-and-under breaststroke, finishing seventh and 10th in the "A" finals respectively.
Vito Zou (16) was 10th in the 400m freestyle "A" final with best times in that event as well as 50m, 100m, and 800m freestyle.
Patrick Sheppard (17) broke four senior club records and advanced to three 17-andover "B" finals - in the 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststroke. He dominated the 200m consolation final - winning the heat start to finish and shaving five seconds off his previous personal best time.
Sidney Peake (16) qualified for the 16and-over "B" finals in four events, including 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststroke as well as 200m IM. She raced her personal best times in the 50m breast and 400 IM.
Colette Summers (15) made her first "B" final at Westerns, finishing fifth in the 15-and-under 50m free. She posted 27.67 seconds in morning preliminaries and 27.85 seconds in the evening final. Both times were seasonal best performances.
Sarah Yeo (15) also made her first "B" finals at Westerns. In the 15-and-under 200 IM "B" final, Yeo sprinted ahead of the field early on, and moved up the ranks to finish third. Taylor Reilly (14) smashed her previous best by 0.7 seconds in 50m breaststroke and equaled her best times in 100m and 200m breaststroke.
Western Championship rookies Amy Kowbel (15) and Joshua Baerg (17) each raced two personal best performances.
Kowbel bettered her 50m and 200m butterfly times. Baerg improved in the 50m and 100m beaststroke.
"Our swimmers showed grit and poise, and raced with intelligence and determination," said WDSC head coach Ben Keast.
"We hit a high-water mark for the club and we're only halfway into the season. Much will improve between now and the summer."
