Blenheim Swimmers Collect 30 Medals at Weekend Meets

Two small contingents from the Blenheim Blast Swim Team swam away with 30 medals this weekend from the 12 & Under Celebration in London, and the Joanne Malar Invitational in Hamilton.

At the Canada Games Aquatic Centre in London, 12 year old Brendan Van Herk swam to six podium finishes in each of his events. Van Herk won gold medals in both the 12 year old boys 50m Fly (33.10) and 200m (2:44.13). Brendan swam to three silver medals in the 100m Free (1:06.69), 100m Fly (1:14.93) and 200m Breast (3:13.36). Brendan also received a bronze in the 200m I.M. (2:44.87). Rain Pfaff received two gold medals in the 12 year old girls 50m Free ( 30.77) and 50m Back (35.12). Rain also won silver in the 50m Breast (40.43) and had three other top ten finishes, placing fourth in the 100m Back , sixth in the 400m I.M. and tenth in the 200m I.M.

[11 year old Delainey Johnson won bronze in the girls 50m Back in a time of 44.91. Grace Hansen swam to Gold in the 10 year old girls 50m Breast (48.46), silver in the 200m I.M. (3:11.97) and received two bronze medals in the 50m Free (35.73) and 100m Fly (1:34.6). Grace also place fourth in the 100m Free and sixth in the 100m Back. 8 year old Emma Pegg swam to silver medal finishes in the 50m Breast (59.27) and 200m I.M. (3:56.53). Emma also placed fourth in the 50m Free and 100m Fly, fourth in the 100m Free, and was eighth in the 100m Back.

Older members of the team travelled to McMaster University for the Joanne Malar Invitational swimming away with a total of 14 medals. River Pfaff won gold in both the 200m I.M. (2:40.56) and 400m I.M. (5:45.75) in the 14 year old boys age category. River also won silver in the 100 m Breast (1:20.74) , and won three bronze medals in the 50m Free (29.34), 100m Back (1:16.53) and 200m Back (2:48.73) River also finished fourth in the 100m Free and 100m Fly. 18 year old Justine Van Herk won silver in the 15 & over 100m Breast (1:24.77) and received bronze in the 100m Free (1:01.22). Brandelyn Kelly (15) won gold in the 15 & over girls 100m Back (1:19.38) and swam to silver in the 200m Back (2:49.99) Shania Van Herk won gold in the 15 & over 400m I.M. (5:41.63) and was fourth in the 100m Free (1:02.56). 14 year old Mackenzie Rajki won three silver medals in the girls 100m Fly (1:23.46), 400m I.M. (6:17.79) and 400m Free (5:27.16). Mackenzie was fourth in the 100m Breast, and placed fifth in the 50m Free and 100m Free.

Blenheim is hosting the next S.E.A.L. Meet Sunday January 22.