Blenheim Blast Swim to Podium Finishes in Leamington

The Blenheim Blast Swim Team Travelled to the Sherk Centre in Leamington Sunday to participate in the latest S.E.A.L. meet of the season. This meet was hosted by the Leamington Lasers Swim Team, and over 330 athletes from 9 swim teams were in attendance.

12 year old Brendan Van Herk swam away with five top ten performances, winning the 12-13 year old boys 100m breaststroke in a personal best time of 1:28.50. Brendan also placed first competing up an age group in the boys 14 & over 100m backstroke in a time of 1:14.80. Brendan was third in the 14 & over 100m freestyle ( 1:05.84), fourth in the 14&over butterfly (33.06) and was sixth in the men’s open 200 Individual Medley (2:43.09). 15 year old River Pfaff swam to four top ten performances, finishing in first

place in the boys 14 & over 100m freestyle, in a new personal best time of 1:04.30. River was third in both the 14 & over 50m butterfly (32.66) and in the men’s open 200m freestyle (2:23.86, and also placed fourth in the 14 & over 100m backstroke (1:18.76). 10 year old Grace Hansen won the 10-11 year old girls 50m butterfly in a personal best time of 40.66 seconds. Grace was second in the 50m backstroke (43.98) and placed fifth in both the 50m breaststroke (48.94) and 100m freestyle (1:23.76).

13 year old Rain Pfaff competed up an age division, placing second in the 14 & over girls 100m backstroke (1:18.55) and was third in both the 14 & over girls 100m breaststroke (1:32.61) and the women’s open 200 IM (2:51.77). Rain was fifth in the girls 12-13 year old 50m butterfly, completing the race in a time of 37.26 seconds. 15 year old Brandelyn Kelly had four top ten finishes at the meet. Brandelyn swam to third place in the girls 14 & over 50m butterfly (35.02), fourth in the 100m backstroke (1:19.95), seventh in the 100m freestyle (1:10.93), and placed ninth in the 100m breaststroke (1:37.24).

7 year old William Reynolds placed third in the boys 7 & under Backstroke in a time of 39.93 seconds. William was also fourth in the boys 25m backstroke in a personal best time 27.60 seconds. 11 year old Delainey Johnson had three top ten finishes in the 10-11 year old girls category at the meet, finishing in fourth in the 100m freestyle (1:23.46), fifth in the 50m backstroke (45.52), and tenth in the 50m breaststroke (52.41). Riley Johnson (15) had three top ten finishes, placing fourth in both the women’s open 200 m freestyle and 200 m individual medley. Riley was sixth the girls 14 & over 100m breaststroke. Catherine Thompson (15) had two top ten finishes placing fifth in the women’s open 200m Individual Medley (3:06.69) and seventh in the 14 & over 50m butterfly (39.44). 8 year old Emma Pegg had two top ten finishes at this meet, placing sixth in the 8-9 year old girls 25m butterfly (21.16) and tenth in the 25m backstroke (26.24 ) Other top ten finishers include 14 year old Sophia MacLean who swam to a ninth place finish in the girls 14 & over 100m backstroke in a time of 1:28.17.

Four members of the Blenheim Blast Swim Team will travel to the Nepean Sportsplex this weekend to participate in the Junior Short Course Provincials. Qualifying swimmers are Justine Van Herk, Shania Van Herk, Brendan Van Herk, and Grace Hansen.

The Blenheim Blast will play host for the next S.E.A.L. Meet of the season April 1, 2012.