Featuring close to 100 swimmers from Williams Lake, Prince George and Quesnel, the appropriately-named Williams Lake Blue Fins Frost Fest was a huge success.
“I think it went very well,” said Blue Fins coach Marilyn Haines, who noted it was one of the larger Blue Fins meets in recent years.
The event, held at the Sam Ketcham Memorial Pool on Saturday and Sunday, saw swimmers compete in individual, relay and team events. The meet also provided an opportunity for swimmers to post provincial qualifying times.
On Sunday the highlight came when the fastest six boys and the fastest six girls from Saturday’s 200-metre individual medley were pitted against one another for a 100-metre individual medley dash for cash showdown, and for bragging rights between Williams Lake, the Prince George Baracudas and the Quesnel Waveriders.
On the boys side Blue Fin Patrick Verbeeck took the win in 1:10.32, while teammate Jeremy Zwiers finished second in 1:13.89. Taking third place in the dash for cash was Prince George’s Adrian Lamb.
In the girls cash race it was a three way Blue Fin sweep. Tracey Beauchamp nabbed first in 1:15.21, Ashley Beauchamp took second in 1:16.24 and Geneva Gordon claimed third in 1:19.45.
Haines said so far this year the Blue Fins have one swimmer, 12-year-old Coral Choi, who has already posted a ‘AAA’ provincial qualifying time and another swimmer, 11-year-old Madison Blusson, who is knocking on the doorstep of a ‘AAA’ time.
“We didn’t have any new ‘AAA’ times at the meet but Madison was within four tenths of a second of a ‘AAA’ time in the 100-metre breaststroke and she will very likely qualify for provincials when she goes to the ‘AA’ provincials,” Haines said.
She added another eight or so Blue Fins have posted ‘AA’ qualifying times and will be attending the ‘AA’ short-course championships in Chilliwack from Feb. 10-12.
Following that, from March 1-4 in Surrey, are the Provincial ‘AAA’ Short-Course Championships.
The Blue Fins are also sending several swimmers to Kamloops from Feb. 4-5 for the Kamloops Valentine Splash at the Tournament Capital Centre before hosting another home meet, Blue Fins Spring Fling, from Feb. 24-26.
For aggregate results from Frost Fest see Thursday’s Tribune.