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Kelowna AquaJets dove into their first swim meet of the season in Penticton this past weekend. Taking 48 athletes, the meet was a success for 28 swimmers who achieved their personal best times in all the events they entered.
The Jets truly embraced teamwork and perseverance as six athletes from the bronze group and eight from the silver group swam to 100 per cent of their best times. Gold and platinum groups also bettered their personal times.
"It was so much fun to see the AquaJets compete for the first time this season," Stefan Pripoae, the new silver group coach said.
The meet was set up as a Pentathlon, which sees swimmers take on 15 events in three sessions. Swimming in all 15 events were iron swimmers Ella Rolleston (13), Brandon Mullin (14), Megan Elkin (15), Taylor Desrosier (14), Molly Hill (14), Axana Merckx (15), Brooklyn Semashkewich (14) and Jasper Stone (16).
“Getting to see the resilience of the swimmers over three days was quite impressive,” Pripoae said.
Not only did multiple AquaJet athletes achieve their personal bests, they also scored big time in overall placements. Ten-year-old swimmers Isla O’Connor and Sara Gray placed second overall on Friday and Saturday, while Andrea Kraetzer (12) took second on Sunday and Brandon Mullin was second overall on Saturday.
Meanwhile, senior swimmers Molly Hill and Axana Merckx placed first and third overall for all three days
The AquaJets’ season is looking promising, as six swimmers achieved their AA provincial time qualification standards from this meet alone. Next up for the Jets is the Vernon Fall Meet and the locally hosted Kelowna Aqua Jets Fall Classic and Jamboree.
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