The Duncan Stingrays swim team sent 16 competitors to the Comox Valley Aquatic Club 10 and Under Championship in early May, where more than 300 swimmers from eight clubs were in action.
“The 10 and under group is often the most enthusiastic and energized so to have a competition just for them is exciting both for them and for us,” Stingrays head coach Leanne Sirup said. “There are always some big smiles over exciting new experiences both with new events attempted and results found.”
The Stingrays’ focus for the meet was on participation and personal bests, and the club finished fourth in the team standings.
“We were happy to finish in the middle of the team standings which exceeded our placing for a number of years,” Sirup noted.
Ten Stingrays achieved personal bests in 100 per cent of their races: Finn Dahlstrom (the Stingrays’ top scorer at the meet, first in 200m backstroke and 50m freestyle, second in 100m and 200m butterfly and 50m backstroke, third in 100m free and 100m backstroke), Evan Hales (second in 200m back and 50m and 200m free, third in 50m backstroke and 400m free, fourth in 100m backstroke and 100m free); Julia Doehler (second in 25m fly and 10th in 50m back),Teddy James (the youngest Stingray at seven years old, first in 25m free and sixth in 50m breaststroke), Katie James (third in 100m backstroke, fourth in 100m free and fifth in 50m backstroke), Julian LaPointe (first in 25m fly, second in 100m IM and sixth in 100m backstroke), Abigail LaPointe (seventh in 200m and 50m backstroke), Rowan Thompson (second in 100m IM and 100m backstroke, fourth in 50m breaststroke and 50m fly, fifth in 50m backstroke, sixth in 50m and 100m free), Wish Keirstead (first in 25 breaststroke, second in 25m backstroke and 25m free, third in 25m fly) and Emma Roll (completed her debut races in the 200m IM and 200m breaststroke).
Two more Stingrays had 90 per cent personal bests: Connor Thompson (third in 25m fly, fourth in 50m breaststroke, sixth in 100m IM and 50m backstroke) and Angus Preston (first in 50m fly, fifth in 50m breaststroke, sixth in 50m and 100m free). Two others had personal bests in 80 per cent of their races: Ryca Stiwich (12 swims in two days, fifth in 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke and 400m free, sixth in 50m free eighth in 100m backstroke and 200m free) and Maggie Preston (11 swims in two days, fourth in 50m breaststroke, fifth in 200m backstroke, sixth in 100m backstroke and 200m breaststroke and seventh in 50m and 400m free).
Additionally, Elle Nakonechny was the top scorer among Duncan girls, placing first in the 100m free and 50m fly, second in the 50m free and 50m backstroke, third in the 50m breaststroke and seventh in the 100m breaststroke) and Ronan Boteler recorded personal bests in the 50m and 200m free, and finished 11th in the 50m backstroke.
Julia Doehler, Katie James, Emma Roll and Rowan Thompson all had Vancouver Island Regional qualifying times at the Comox meet.
“The results were very good for many of the Stingrays and qualifying for the Vancouver Island Championships in June was a goal,” Sirup said.
The Duncan Swim Team Jamboree on June 23 will mark the season finale for the Stingrays development program.