The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A third of the way through the swimming season and the Flin Flon Aqua Jets are placing everywhere they go. The club recently traveled to The Pas for a meet with Thompson and the host club. Fifteen swimmers from Flin Flon, plus two noncompetitive athletes, swam a total of 104 races. Out of those, the competitive swimmers placed in the top six in 78 races. Each swimmer had the option to compete in eight races, but some swam fewer. As well as building a friendly rivalry with the two clubs, the Aqua Jets were looking to better their times as well as work towards getting best times (B times) and Provincial B times. ÒThey all swam really well,Ó says coach Jim Aune, adding that 70 per cent of the races saw the swimmers take time off of their B times. ÒThey did really well and it was a good event,Ó says the coach. ÒThe swimmers are really getting to the (The Pas swimmers) and itÕs creating a friendly rival, which adds to the excitement.Ó As well as competing against themselves, the swimmers are in the pool with a number of other swimmers with the same goal. Emma Peterson, who swam in the 11-12 girls age group, was able to put the other swimmers out of her mind as she came in first place overall in her age group. As well, Kyla Suss came in second overall in the girls 10 and under group. Garrison Aune found himself in second overall in the 11-12 boys group, while Terri-Lynn Mack was in second place for the 15 and older girls. Shyann Brown pulled away with a second place in the 13-14 girls as Todd Nawrocki earned third place in the boys 10 and under. The next step for the Aqua Jets will be a meet in Prince Albert the first weekend of December. Eleven of the 17 swimmers will be heading to the event, where they are looking for more B times as well as Provincial B times, which will qualify them to swim in Provincials. ÒIÕm not expecting as many ribbons,Ó says Aune, noting that he handed out 78 at the recent meet. ÒBut itÕs all about improving.Ó As well as more swimmers at the meet, Aune says the caliber of the athletes will be higher than what the Aqua Jets have seen so far. ÒThey will have to swim at their best to place in PA,Ó he says. In the other meets, the Aqua Jets have only had to race once in each event, but in PA there will be preliminary swims as well as a final. The following swimmers participated in the meet in The Pas: Noncompetitive Casey Cooper Megan McIntosh Jr. Swimmers Julie Finne Samantha Ryan Caitlin Haggarty Daniel Bratvold Anthony Francois Sr. Swimmers Kyla Suss Allison Mack Garrison Aune Emma Peterson Joanne Mack Nicole Storey Jenna Bratvold Terri-Lynn Mack Shyann Brown Todd Nawrocki
