2018 Nationals – OMSC Members Swim Personal Bests
News Release – May 25, 2018
Okanagan Masters Swim Club athletes returned this week with personal bests from the 2018 Canadian Masters Swimming Championship held in Calgary over the Victoria Day Weekend.
The Calgary meet saw swimmers of all ages competing, from 18 years of age to 97. The nine Kelowna swimmers ranged in age from 29 to 94.
While promoting fun, fitness and friendship is key to the OMSC club, there are swimmers who want to compete to the best of their ability. OMSC is based out of the H20 Adventure & Fitness Centre with swimmers usually attending a few meets a year.
Coach Thomas Robinson states “Nationals was an awesome meet for OMSC. Teammates who normally don’t swim together or see each other had the opportunity to develop friendships and old friends were able to share a lot of laughs. The entire team came together for every race to cheer on their teammates making us by far the most spirited team at the meet. Other masters teams even started to cheer for our swimmers because of their positive attitudes and the energy that our team was sending off. I was incredibly proud to have the opportunity to have coached everyone at the meet.”
The following is a breakdown of the personal bests for OMSC swimmers in Calgary:
- Brenda Balderson (age group 60-64) knocked 10 seconds from her fastest 800 free;
- Betty Brussel (age group 90-94took 29 seconds off her fastest time 50 back;
- Carmel Guidi-Swan (age group 45-49) did a best time in 5 out of her 6 races and won a medal in every single event she swam in;
- Brent Hobbs (age group 50-54) nailed his stroke and took off nearly 2 seconds from his 100 fly best time;
- Elisa Hoover (age group 30-34) also had an awesome weekend and posted several best times but her 50 was swam very well. Strong from start to finish, Elisa saw a lifetime best time in her 50 free;
- Chantal McMartin (age group 25-29) had a three second drop from her best time in the 200 IM;
- Debra Parker (age group 60-64) won the 1500 free beating a rival from another team;
- Connie Stamhuis (age group85-89) broke one minute on her 50 free;
- Carol Taylor (age group 60-64) dropped 6 seconds off her best time in the 200 IM and came in second in her age category.
