WOLFVILLE - Triton swimmers were prominent in two provinces March 24-25.
Despite the snow storm, 13 Tritons traveled to St. John to compete in the New Brunswick Spring Championships. This is the second year this meet has been held, and is a good opportunity for the swimmers to know how they are doing as they compete against unknown athletes, says head coach Moira Milward. Coming off spring break and well rested, the swimmers demonstrated how important rest is for success.
Top Triton swimmer of this meet was Ava Vial, 15, who won four events and got to the finals in all the events she entered. Vial made a strong push but just missed being the top points winner for the 15 & over age group.
“Ava’s confidence is growing as she is showing that she is the top breaststroke swimmer in all the female events in the Maritimes,” said Milward.
She will soon head to Windsor, Ontario to compete in the Eastern Championships, hoping to further improve her times. Joining her there is Bo Stokesbury-Price, 15, who also showed how much he is improving in his freestyle events, winning the 200 and 400 metre events in best times.
“Both athletes are showing more fire when challenged in races and taking every opportunity to dig deep to win,” Milward said.
While all swimmers shone at this meet, Marta Perez-Roca, 15, won the 400 IM; Oliver Cadrain, 18, demonstrated a tenacity to improve his times; Gabriel Graves, 14, tried hard achieve qualifying times for the Eastern Championships; and his sister Maggie Graves, 12, managed best times in all her swims and, with her training partner Eliza Stokesbury-Price, 12, made a few finals.
Sean Vibert, 17, swam a valiant anchor for the mens’ relay, helping the team take second place. Scotia Broome, 15, and Kayla Jarvis, 13, along with Vial and Perez-Roca were successful in holding off the challenges from the much larger Moncton and Fredericton teams to win the Medley Relay title.
Simon Dorneiden, 12, Alex Glenn, 13, and Chelsea Beaulieu, 17, completed the team.
Halifax competition
Nine other Tritons headed to Halifax for a full day of competition March 24. This was a development meet which is designed to have the swimmers race and have an opportunity to improve their times, Milward explained.
Eliese Groeneveld, 13, managed a great swim in her 200m freestyle, taking two seconds off her time and showing some race maturity by making the last half faster than the first half, “something that takes willpower and skill,” Milward said.
Her teammate, Shannon Guy, 11, also impressed with a nine-second time improvement for her 200m IM.
“Both girls showing that
they are developing their racing skills,” Milward said.
Sophie Bezanson, 15, who has struggled with injury, performed to five best times, suggesting her injuries are easing, Milward said, while Olivia Williams, 10, and Sophie Duncan, 12, also raced to several best times. Others
competing at this meet were Hannah Williams, 13, Kaisa Thorsen, 14, and Keith Newsome, 16.
