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Blue Fins combine for third-place finish

Fifteen Williams Lake Blue Fins swimmers took to the pool in Kamloops during the weekend for the June Classic.
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The Williams Lake Blue Fins get together for a team photo following the Kamloops June Classic swim meet this past weekend.

Fifteen Williams Lake Blue Fins swimmers took to the pool in Kamloops during the weekend for the June Classic meet and came home with some strong results.

The team placed third overall for all small teams (under 20 swimmers).

Hitting the podium and collecting hardware this weekend was Taylor FItzgerald, who swam to a gold in the 200-metre backstroke and posted a ‘AAA’ provincial qualifying time.

Keanna Saunders, meanwhile, finished with a gold medal in the 50-metre breaststroke and a silver medal in the 200-metre freestyle.

Gabrielle Knox, not to be outdone, posted a gold-medal time in the 50-metre breaststroke and won a bronze medal in the 50-metre freestyle, while Maya Nowotny swam to a silver medal in the 50-metre breaststroke.

Achieving top eight results outside the medals were: Liam McCreight, Cole Turner, Abby Webb and Andrew Haseldine.

Placing second and third in the relays were the 10 and under girls of Harmony Lycett, Rowan Smith, Knox and Nowotny.

Placing third in both relays were the 11 and 12 girls: Cristelle Panida, Webb, Fitzgerald and Saunders.

Andrew Haseldine and Cole Turner also had strong meets as they joined the Blue Fins’ group of swimmers who have qualified for the ‘AA’ provincials in a number of events where they will make the trip back to Kamloops in three weeks.

Smith added to her impressive year by collecting another club record in the 100-metre butterfly.

Knox and Nowotny narrowly missed ‘AA’ times while Lycett and Rebecca Elefson shattered their previous best times with big improvements, said Blue Fins head coach Chad Webb.

Shaylee Stewart achieved one ‘AA’ time and barely missed her second qualifying time to allow her to attend.

“[We’ve just got] the Summer Games team remaining in the water while the rest of the club packs it in for the season,” Webb said.

Meanwhile, eight simmers — Fitzgerald, Saunders, McCreight, Turner, Haseldine, Kara Zavitz, Webb and Panida — are preparing the Swim BC ‘AA’ Provincial Chamipionships.