The Williams Lake Blue Fins tested the waters in Quesnel during the weekend for their first swim meet of the new year.
Twenty-five swimmers travelled north with the team and came away with some solid results, said head coach Chad Webb.
“Although only back in the water two weeks after the Christmas break all swimmers posted many best times in most of their events,” he said.
With 82 top-three results in their events the team finished just behind the host team and ahead of Prince George by more than 20 top-three placements.
Webb said significant improvements came from many swimmers. In particular, he pointed to Andrew Haseldine, Isabelle Knox, Makena Petruk, Taylor Fitzgerald, Keanna Saunders, Morgan Langford, Cristelle Panida and Dane Ramier.
Additionally, he said Peyton Bailey and Eric Haseldine swam at their first out-of-town meet. Bailey finished first in the 25-metre freestyle and fourth in the 100-metre individual medley.
Webb said the number of best times coming after the holiday break was impressive.
Haseldine and Knox were named swimmers of the meet by Blue Fins’ coaches.
“Isabelle for her significant improvement and hard work and Andrew for his improvements and sportsmanship over the weekend,” Webb said.
Five swimmers — Kara Zavitz, Saunders, Liam McCreight and Kelsey Blokland — are now continuing their training toward the provincial championship swim meets.
The quintet will travel to the ‘AA’ championships in Penticton Feb. 12-14, while Fitzgerald will be the lone Blue Fins’ swimmers to compete at the ‘AAA’ championships in Victoria March 3-6.
The Blue Fins are also hosting their annual Cariboo Dental Clinic Meet on Feb. 27-28 where teams from Quesnel, Prince George and Kamloops will attend.