Tina Hoeben wants KISU swimmers to place pressure on themselves in a relaxed environment.
"I still think that they need to swim fast without that championship pressure," said the KISU coach of the desired approach for KISU"s February Fling Meet Saturday and Sunday.
She also wants to see how their training last month benefitted them as they head into a meet which provides a last chance to earn AA and AAA standard times before Westerns. With that on the line, Hoeben said the meet is important.
It's expected that 130 swimmers will compete. It's a lower number, she said, because Kelowna changed its dates and hosted an event the week before. KISU will have half of those numbers, which pleases Hoeben.
Having competed in the New Westminster Icebreaker Classic Jan.10 and 11, Hoeben said the swimmers look good going into this weekend.
"It's a very focused group," she said.
The Icebreaker Classic, Hoeben said, was a hard meet to compete in since it followed the holidays. Hoeben watched as her swimmers performed well and expected it to inspire training. Swimmers who broke through some barriers to improve times Chelsea Keeler (10.23 seconds off 400-metre freestyle, 16.46 seconds off 200-m I.M., 17.05 seconds off 200-m breast stroke), Daniel Everton and Riley Thompson. Caitlyn Kowal made her debut and did fabulous (17.19 seconds off 100-m breast stroke, 43.23 seconds off 200-m free).
Great Achievement in Performance:
Wynn Nordlund: (33.96 seconds off 1500-m free)
MacKenzie Wallich: (8.48 seconds off 800-m free)
Amazing performances for (10 & under) swimmers: Samuel Kliever (taking 16.83 seconds off of the 200-m back), Ava Wall (taking 6.15 seconds off the 200-m free) and Aspen Benn in the girls 50-m back.
Individual Placement:
Keeler: placed second overall in the girls (11 & under) 400-m I.M
Wallich: placed first in girls (14-15) for 1500-m free
Acacia Benn: placed first in the girls (12-13) 50-m breast stroke
Tyler Wall: placed third in the (boys 12-13) 200-m free
Payton Nackoney: placed second in the girls (16 & over) 50-m Fly
Wynn Nordlund: placed second for boys (14-15 yrs.) 1500-m free
Daniel Everton: placed second for boys (12-13) 50-m fly
Riley Wall: achieved three first place finishes in (boys 14-15) 50-m fly, 100-m back stroke and 100-m fly
The February Fling is Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 at the Penticton Community Centre Pool with the first event starting Friday at 4 p.m., Saturday at 8 a.m. with finals at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.