PENTICTON KISU swimmers Mackenzie Meynen (top) and Braelyn Robinson compete in the finals of the 50-metre breaststroke and butterfly events respectively

PENTICTON KISU swimmers Mackenzie Meynen (top) and Braelyn Robinson compete in the finals of the 50-metre breaststroke and butterfly events respectively

KISU makes waves

KISU swimmers impress coach by earning several best times

Members of the KISU swim team established more best times than their coach thought they would.

ā€œWe had some great swims,ā€ said Tina Hoeben.

The first meet of the season for the club allowed Hoeben to see where the swimmers are in terms of their training. The three-day meet, which included a jamboree on Sunday, involved 440 swimmers from the region and some club teams from the Kootenays.

Hoeben said her swimmers showed lots of promise. Hoeben described Ashley McMillan, 9, as one of the team’s faster swimmers.

ā€œShe did a great job. She won the pentathlon event on the Friday,ā€ said Hoeben of McMillan, whose combined time in five events was 9:28.98.

On opening day, McMillan was joined in the top three by Marlee Caruso, who finished in third for girls 10 and under. For girls 11 to 12, Acacia Benn was second. In boys 11 to 12, Tyler Wall was second, while in boys 13 to 14, Sam Lasinski finished first and Riley Wall, third.

Lasinski won the overall in the boys 13 to 14-year-old group with a combined time of 24:56.35, while Riley was third at 26:47.18. His younger brother Tyler was first in the 11 to 12-year-old group with a time of 30:28.35. Benn had a great performance finishing second in the 11-12-year-old group in 30:22.30. Hoeben said other young swimmers stood out as well, including Justin Fotherby, 10, and Anna Spence, 12.

On the third day, McMillan was second, Fotherby,10, third, Spence, 12, took second, Wall and Everton,12, finished first and second, respectively. Lasinski, 13, took first.

While all the results weren’t yet posted, Hoeben was very happy, especially with the number of swimmersĀ who competed.

ā€œIt is the biggest meet that we have ever hosted,ā€ she said. ā€œThat was exciting.ā€

While the quality of the swimmers isn’t what would be seen at a provincial or national event, Hoeben said it was still good and she liked seeing new faces.

ā€œIt was great to have that competition come to our area,ā€ she said, adding that the next one is in Vernon, Nov. 8 to 10.

The next event Penticton hosts is the high school regionals this Sunday. Warm-ups begin at noon, then competition begins at 1until 5 or 6 p.m. The top three swimmers from each event will advance to provincials. With swimmers in Grades 8 to 12 able to compete, Penticton will have 48 competitors.

ā€œThat number is huge,ā€ said Hoeben. ā€œWe have never had that many compete in a high school swimĀ meet before.ā€

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