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Blue Fins nab 12 medals at championships

Select members of the Williams Lake Blue Fins Swim Club were at the B.C. “AA” short course championships in Chilliwack at the Landing Leisure Centre from Feb. 11-13.
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Williams Lake Blue Fins swimmers (back from left) Ashley Beauchamp

Select members of the Williams Lake Blue Fins Swim Club were at the B.C. “AA” short course championships in Chilliwack at the Landing Leisure Centre from Feb. 11-13.

The Blue Fins came away from the meet with an impressive 12 medals over the three-day event while reaching the finals a total of 35 times.

Adding to their success, three more swimmers posted “AAA” qualifying times and now have the chance to attend the championships next month, while several best times for individual swimmers increased.

Friday, there were three medals captured by the Blue Fins.

First, Patrick Verbeeck took gold in the boys’ open 200-metre butterfly. Ashley Beauchamp followed that up with another gold-medal swim in the girls’ 13 and under 200-metre individual medley.

To bring Friday’s medal count to three, Coral Choi took silver in the girls’ 11 and under 50-metre freestyle.

Saturday, the Blue Fins continued their winning ways with four swimmers reaching the podium.

Beauchamp claimed another gold medal in the girls’ 13 and under 200-metre breaststroke, Choi took gold in the girls’ 11 and under 200-metre breaststroke and Janna Kovacs took silver in the girls 11 and under 400-metre freestyle. Verbeeck also added to his medal count with a bronze medal in the boys’ open 100-metre butterfly.

On Sunday, five more medals were tallied by the Blue Fins.

Verbeeck took gold in the boys’ open 400-metre individual medley, Beauchamp claimed gold in the girls’ 13 and under 100-metre breaststroke and Choi took gold in the girls’ 11 and under 100-metre breaststroke.

Winning silver was David Russell in the boys’ 11 and under 100-metre breaststroke, while Kovacs brought her medal count to two by finishing with a bronze medal in the girls’ 11 and under 200-metre freestyle.

Swimmers from the Blue Fins who were at the meet achieved at least one “AA” time standard in the short course season to qualify.

For more on the Williams Lake Blue Fins visit their website at www.wlbluefins.com or call coach Marilyn Haines at 250-392-2987.



Greg Sabatino

About the Author: Greg Sabatino

Greg Sabatino graduated from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops with a Bachelor of Journalism degree in 2008.
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