Cassis Lindsay’s first national championship didn’t go as she had hoped.
The Whitehorse Glacier Bears swimmer didn’t post any personal best times and topped-out with a 12th place finish at the 2014 Canadian Age Group Championships last weekend in Winnipeg, Man.
“I’m a bit disappointed,” said Lindsay. “But this happens to everyone. But it’s summer vacation now, so I’m refusing to let it bother me.”
“I tried my best, but you can’t break your times all the time,” she added.
Lindsay, who was the only Glacier Bear competing at the championship, placed 12th in the 50-metre freestyle (29.08) in the girls 13-and-under division.
She also came 14th in the 100 free (1:03.08), 15th in the 50-metre backstroke (33.51), 17th in the 100 back (1:12.38) and 24th in the 200 back (2:39.64).
“It wasn’t my best meet, but it was my first nationals and this one was about the experience,” said the 13-year-old. “Next year, for next nationals, I’ll know that it’s a different level of competition.
“This nationals my coach saw what we need to work on, things I need to work on with my technique.”
Despite missing a lot of training due to illness, Linday still had a productive season.
Lindsay and sister Rennes captured five medals, all in freestyle, at the Swim B.C. AAA Long Course Championship last month. Cassis pocketed silver medals in the 50 and 100 free for girls 12-13.
Cassis won bronze in the 100 back at the Swim B.C. AAA Short Course Championships in February.
She swam to gold in the 50 free in girls 13-14 division at the 22nd annual Kamloops June Classic in June.
She was also the aggregate winner in the 13-and-over girls division at the Yukon Invitational Swim Championships in April.
“It was a good experience to go there for both of us,” said Glacier Bears head coach Malwina Bukszowana of the nationals. “She learned a lot. It was probably stressful because it was the first time she swam nationals.
“I think she should be happy with it. She had some issues of health during the year, in the winter, so she didn’t train as much. For the training she did, and for her first appearance at nationals, I think she did very well.”
Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com