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.
While a regular swim meet has participants compete for their best times in each race, the Flin Flon Aqua Jets participated in something a little different this past weekend. Eight members of the team traveled to Saskatoon for the Laser Septathlon, where they received a combined score after taking part in seven events. Coach Mark Fenske, who took the team to the Saskatoon pool, says the septathlon it is a lot more difficult than a regular meet. ÒItÕs the broad picture of swimming rather than looking at one (type),Ó he says. ÒThey are competing for overall completeness. ÒThey have to do well in everything rather than just one or two swims,Ó he says. And doing well was just what the Flin Flon swimmers did as Garrison Aune, 10, moved into first place for his age group, along with picking up seven personal best finishes. Fenske says the septathlon is a technical meet. ÒYou have to know all the rules and know them well,Ó he says. With anything comes preparation, but the coach says this team has been preparing for this event since January. In a typical meet the swimmers swim a 25-metre length, the size of the lanes in the Flin Flon Aqua Centre, but in the Septathlon, the swimmers were required to swim 50-metre lengths. And to prepare for that Fenske had the swimmers swimming Òlonger swims, racing and building endurance.Ó With eight local swimmers in the pool in Saskatoon, four times the amount of last year, each swimmer improved on their times and swims. Garrison took home the first place trophy. ÒThis is much bigger than most meets, so it is a significant win,Ó says Fenske. Both Garrison and Emma Peterson, 10, have qualified to move up to the next category for swimming times, which Fenske also says is a big accomplishment. ÒThey are able to go to meets where they have to qualify,Ó he says, adding that the meets are more exclusive. See 'Moved' on pg. Continued from pg. As it stands now, the majority of the Aqua Jets are on an invitational list, but both Garrison and Emma have moved into the qualifying circle. The last recent action at the Aqua Centre saw the Jets taking on each other in a mock swim meet, which the coach says was a great way to prepare the swimmers for Saskatoon. ÒIt was lots of fun and it really prepares them for competition,Ó he says. Like many other sports in Flin Flon and Northern Manitoba, the Aqua Jets often have trouble finding teams to compete against. ÒItÕs similar to others (sports) but the swimming season is longer. It is hard for them to stay focused and interested,Ó says Fenske. ÒYou have to travel more to keep them interested and excited.Ó Fenske says there is also a big difference between the Aqua Jets and some of the other clubs in the cities. Big clubs swim 24-40 hours a week, while the Flin Flonners are only in the pool six to eight hours. But it canÕt be all bad. ÒFor Garrison to win his age group is a huge testament to his age and ability,Ó says Fenske. If Garrison were in a bigger club Fenske says he would be swimming 12-20 hours a week, but considering he only gets half of the training, Fenske says he, along with the rest of the swimmers, is doing really well. Fenske says the reason the swimmers here donÕt get enough hours is because in bigger clubs the coach is a full time coach, where as he works a full time job and is a part time coach. Next on the docket for the Aqua Jets is a meet, which will be held in Flin Flon at the end of May. Swimmers from Thompson, The Pas and Dauphin will be joining the Aqua Jets in the pool. Team members from Thompson, The Pas and Flin Flon will be eligible to make the Norman Swim Team for the Manitoba Games. And Fenske says there wonÕt be any swimmers from Flin Flon just walking onto the team. ÒEveryone has to qualify,Ó he says. The Lasers Septathlon saw the Aqua Jets improve as follows: Emma Peterson earned three best (B) times and seven personal bests (PB) Kyla Suss earned six PB Mackenzie Grove earned six PB Garrison Aune earned seven B and seven PB Todd Nawrocki earned seven PB Nicole Storey earned seven PB Mariah Dobie earned seven PB Jenna Bratvold earned seven PB
