Blast Open Swim Season

The Blenheim Blast Swim Team travelled to the Ontario Police College in Aylmer last Sunday to kick off the first S.E.A.L. meet of the 2014/2015season. The Aylmer pool is unique in that it is a 25 yard pool, and swimmers start the first meet of the year without the benefit of the use of starting blocks. Members of our team competed against six other teams from Southwestern Ontario.

Many of the Blenheim Blast swimmers competed in the mixed open division, with swimmers of all ages competing in the same category to match competitive levels. Brendan Van Herk (15) swept the podium racing to first in the mixed open 100Y Fly (57.37), 100Y Back (58.26), 100Y Breast (1:07.24) and 100 Y Free (52.98) events. River Pfaff (17) followed with a sweep of the silver position, finishing second in the 100Y Fly (1:00.83), 100Y Back (1:03.78) 100Y Breast (1:17.13) and 100 Y Free (55.21). River’s sister Rain Pfaff (15) secured third in both the 100Y Back (1:05.10) and 100Y Fly (1:00.83). Rain was fourth place in the 100Y Free (59.98) and placed fifth in the 100Y Breast (1:17.13) Grace Hansen (13) also competed in the mixed open division, placing sixth in both the 100Y Back and Free, and seventh in the 100Y Breast and Fly.

Delainey Johnson (14) won first in the three events in the 14 & over girl’s age division. Johnson swam to first in the 50Y Fly (33.91), 100Y Back (1:16.32) and 100Y Free (1:06.98) events. Delainey also placed fourth in the 100Y Breast (1:34.79), behind teammate Jill Clendenning (14) who was second in a time of 1:28.29. Jill was also second in the 100Y Free (1:11.71) and placed third in the 100Y Back (1:20.96). Olivia Ermers (16) placed second in the 100Y Back (1:20.37), and was third in both the 50Y Fly (37.66) and 100Y Breast (1:31.0). Olivia was also fourth in the 100Y Free

In the 12/13 year old girls division, Abigael Johnston was second in the 100Y Breast (1:29.10) and fifth in both the 50 Y Fly (37.76) and100Y Back (1:25.56). Abigael was also sixth in the 100Y Free (1:17.79). 12 year old Karly Crevits also competed in two events in this age division, with her top performance in the 100Y Free.

10 year old Emma Pegg swam to second place in the 10-11 year old girls 50Y Breast in a time of 44.98. Emma was fourth in the 50Y Back (40.01), fifth in the 50Y Fly (39.11) and eighth in the 100Y Free (1:18.76). Holly Reynolds (11) was third in both the 50 Y Back (39.44) and Breast (45.18), and placed ninth in the 50Y Fly (41.71). Talia-Rae Farrow (11) also had a top ten finish, placing seventh in the 50Y Breast in a time of 45.88. Rylee Stanford also competed in four events in this division, with her top performance in the 50Y Breast.

In the boys 10-11 year old age group, Gracin Black (10) swept two second place finishes in the 50 Y Fly (42.30) and 50Y Breast (45.89). Gracin was also third in both the 50Y Back (42.82) and 100Y Free (1:24.78). Aidan Harris (11) had a top ten finish in this age group placing eighth in the 50Y Back *1:14.53)

9 year old Linnea Mattsson was first in the 8-9 year old girls 25Y Breast in a time of 23.87. Linnea was second in the 25Y Fly (19.96), sixth in the 25Y Back (22.83) and seventh in the 50Y Free. Lilly Jones (8) was third in the 25 Y Breast (25.12), fifth in the 50Y Free (50.55) and sixth in the 25Y Fly (30.14). Other swimmers to hit the pool in this age division were Emily Malott (9), Ameira Black (8) and Brielle Farrow. In the boys division, 9 year old Mathew Anglin was fifth in the 25Y Back (23.91) and seventh in the 50Y Free (52.59).

7 year old Zadie Sunnen had three top ten finishes in the 7 & under girls division, placing eighth in the 25 Y Fly (31.80), ninth in the 25 Y Free (26.50) and tenth in the 25Y Breast (37.79). 6 year old Sadie Black also broke the top ten with an eighth place finish in the 25Y Breast (34.82). Sadie competed in three other events.

A small group from the Blenheim Blast will travel this weekend to compete in the Fall Invitational at the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre.