Fifty-two Williams Lake Blue Fins swimmers — the most ever at a home meet — hosted 75 out of town competitors for one last hurrah in the Sam Ketcham Memorial Pool during the weekend for its Cariboo Dental Frost Fest swim meet.
Blue Fins head coach Chad Webb said it was a great meet for the team as three swimmers posted new ‘AA’ qualifying provincial times while, for quite a few team members, it was their first swim meet ever.
Twenty-five brand new swimmers attended their first meet and swam throughout the weekend garnering massive cheers from everyone in the building.
“It is always cool to hear everyone, regardless of their team, cheering the young ones on as they finish their races,” Webb said.
“We had some great support from Cariboo Dental as our title sponsor and Subway sponsoring our feature showdown event.”
The showdown, meanwhile, was exciting where the fastest six swimmers — both 12 and under and 13 and over — squared off.
Taylor Fitzgerald was first, Abby Webb was second and Cristelle Panida filled the third spot giving the Blue Fins a sweep in the 12 and under showdown.
Andrew Haseldine, meanwhile, managed a third-place finish in his category while Keanna Saunders and Kara Zavitz battled it out in the 13 and over showdown where Saunders clinched second place.
Gabrielle Knox, Isabelle Knox and Abby Webb will now join Fitzgerald, Zavitz, Haseldine, Panida, Morgan Langford and Saunders for the ‘AA’ provincial championships in two weeks in Chilliwack.
As the Sam Ketcham Memorial Pool will be closed for the next nine to 12 weeks as construction of the new pool shifts from phase one to phase two, the Blue Fins will be headed to Quesnel to train for provincials.