Age Group Development 3 - Dalhousie
AGD 3 Review
The Age Group swimmers returned to racing, completing a heavy stretch of competition of 4 race weekends in 7 weeks. SWAT saw much success! Training has gone well, and the swimmers are showing off their progress. 53 swimmers represented the club earning a total of 113 new personal bests, 21 first time events, and even a few new club records.
The Novice group sent 11 swimmers to compete. Each swimmer had 4 individual events, and some had a relay event as well. This was another weekend of firsts. Many swimmers were racing in their first 200 Breaststroke and/or 200 Backstroke. We also welcomed two swimmers to the Age Groups ranks after graduating from Nova Tech earlier this month. Katya had herself 2 new best times and 1 new 200m event. She dropped 5 seconds in the 50 Back. Olesia was also 2 personal best and 1 new 200. She was under 1:30 for the first time in the 100 Free and dropped 3 seconds in the 50 Back. Rachel earned a new best time in the 100 Fly. Emily made her season racing debut with 2 new best times and 1 new 200m event. She dropped 2 seconds in the 100 Fly. Avery dropped 14 seconds in her 100 freestyle as one of her 2 personal bests on the day. She also swam 2 new events for the first time. Wyatt had 3 best times including a 100 Back lead off in the 400 Medley Relay. Ocean bettered 2 of her old times and swam 2 new events. Her highlight was a 14 second improvement in the 100 Free. Farrah made her Age Group debut with a best time and a lead off in the 200 Freestyle relay. Jude, also making his Age Group debut officially finished 2 new events. August had a full slate of new events with 4 new swims for the first time. Ryan earned 2 new personal bests and 1 new 200. He bettered his 100 Fly time from last year by an enormous 31 seconds!
Junior had 16 representatives giving their best efforts. Each swimmer had 3 or 4 individual events and a handful of relay spots. Andrew was a perfect 4 for 4 including a 26 second improvement in the 200 Back, and a 10 second PB in the 100 Free. Morgan was also perfect with 4 best times; finding 15 second and 13 second best times in the 200 IM and 100 Fly respectively. Erica B had matching 5 second improvements in the 200 IM and the 50 Breaststroke. Addison had 4 best times including: an (on paper) 21 second best time in the 200 Breaststroke and an 11 second drop in the 100 Fly. She also added 200 Back to her AAA qualifier resume. She needs just one more time to fully qualify for AAA LCM competition in the winter. Nick H was 4 for 4 swimming many of the events for the first time SCM since last fall. He dropped his 200 Breaststroke by 23 seconds and dipped below 3:00 for the first time in the 200 IM. Sam H reached 3 best times including a 4 second improvement in the 100 Fly. Angus was 4 for 4 with an 8 second improvement to take him under 1:30 in the 100 Fly. Claire was battling some uncomfortable conditions, but showed good technical skills that the group has been working on to start the year. Madelynn bettered 3 of her times, highlighted by 3 and 2 second improvements in the 100 Fly and 50 Breaststroke. Charlotte had a best time in the 200 IM. Ethan M bettered his 50 Breaststroke. Kennedy improved 2 of her old times with 8 second and 4 second improvements in the 100 Fly and 50 Breaststroke. Marco swam to a personal best in the 100 Free. Leonie was a perfect 4 for 4 on the day including a 4 second best time in the 50 Backstroke. Erica R was also Perfect with 4 best times. She swam faster than 1:30 in the 100 Fly for the first time after cutting 15 seconds her entry time (and improving on her Relay time in the same distance). She also shaved 10 seconds off her 50 Breaststroke and another 14 off the 200 IM. Alex swam just in the morning and had 1 new best time and 2 new events; one of which was a AAA calibre 200 Breaststroke.
The Senior group was busy with 18 swimmers with four events each and several relay spots. The group has been through some really good practices and training and are starting to see the fruits of their labour. Gabe A had a breakout meet after a perfect 4 for 4 and big drops in the 200 IM and 200 Back. He swam his first sub 2:20 200 Back. He also qualified for East Coast Champs in the 200 Back, 200 IM, and the 50 Breaststroke. Gabe C earned 2 best times including a 1.5 second drop in the 50 Breaststroke. Jack also swam to 2 new personal bests. He dropped 8 seconds in th e100 Fly, and another 6 in the 200 IM. Elyse had her best meet of the year swimming to season bests in most events and heading the right direction for Candy Cane in December. A motivated Maggie was 5 for 4 with an added Relay lead off 50 Free best time. She dropped 11 seconds in the 200 Breaststroke and 5 in the 50 Back. Victoria was also 5 for 4 with a Relay lead off 100 Back best time. She bettered that 100 Back by 4 seconds, then doubled it to 8 in the 200m distance of the stroke. Ethan K was a perfect 4 for 4 including a 2 second best time in the 100 Free, a big sub 2:10 200 Back Club record at 2:08.54, and a sub 28 second 50 Back. Eugene joined in the afternoon session and had a best time in the 200 IM. Ben L knocked down 3 of his best times including an apparently infrequently raced SCM 100 Free by 20 seconds. Taite swam to a AAA cut in the 200 IM. Nic M was 4 for 4. He cut off 4 seconds in the 100 Fly, 6 in the 200 Breaststroke to get under 2:40 for the first time, and swam his first SCM sub 1:00 100 Freestyle. Alana dropped a second in the 100 Fly. Ben P earned 3 best times including a 3 second improvement in the 200 IM. Joel was 4 for 4 improving the 200 Breaststroke by 23 seconds. He also dropped a couple seconds in the 200 Back ensuring it would be East Coast Champs eligible in the winter. Haley had a perfect 4 for 4 weekend as well, winning the 100 Fly with a 3 second pb and a 4 second pb in the 50 Breaststroke. Jesstine had a breakthrough meet swimming under 1:10 in the 100 Free for the first time and under 40 in the 50 Breaststroke for the first time. Maria joins the Senior ranks with 4 best times including matching 8 second drops in the 200 Breaststroke, and 200 Back. She also set a new 11-12 SCM club record in the 100 Freestyle with a 1:07.11. Sam S got himself 3 new best times highlighted by a 2 second personal best under 1:15 in the 100 Free.
Age Group gets a bit of a break from racing for the next 4 weeks before Candy Cane in Truro December 13-15. This is the first Meet of the season with FINALS!! Performances from SWAT swimmers are lining up well for a good showing at that meet. Before that the Nova Tech Kids race on the 30th on November at the SWAT hosted Nova Tech 2 at Centennial. Hopefully we can add another handful of swimmers to the Age Groups ranks for Candy Cane.