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Glacier Bears maul record book at swim championship

The Whitehorse Glacier Bears set four meet records at the championship that included over 100 swimmers, including eight from Alaska’s Haines Dolphins Swim Team, Friday and Saturday at the Canada Games Centre.
swimming

The record book took another beating at the Yukon Invitational Swim Championships over the weekend.

The Whitehorse Glacier Bears set four meet records at the championship that included over 100 swimmers, including eight from Alaska’s Haines Dolphins Swim Team, Friday and Saturday at the Canada Games Centre.

The invitational is the territory’s swim championships, but some of the swimmers find it hard to get into competition mode. Unlike Outside meets, the whole team is there and there’s more of a fun atmosphere, said a pair of swimmers.

“It’s harder to beat your times up here,” said Glacier Bear Cassis Lindsay, the aggregate winner in the 13-and-over girls division. “We all try to get into competitive mode, but it’s hard sometimes ... It’s a really fun meet because it’s with your friends at home.”

“These kind of meet are always fun because they’re not too competitive, but you can still go as hard as you can and go fast,” said teammate Luke Bakica, who set a meet record.

Bakica set a meet record in the 50-metre breaststroke for boys 13-and-over, completing the race in 38.92 seconds.

“It’s my best stroke by far,” said Bakica. “All the breaststroke races are my favourites.”

Brother Thomas Bakica completed the 200-metre butterfly in 3:31.99 for a record in boys 11-12.

Rennes Lindsay posted a time of 5:52.26 for a meet record in the 400-metre individual medley for girls 11-12.

Aidan Harvey altered the record book in the 200-metre backstroke for boys 11-12, finishing the race in 2:53.21.

All four swimmers set meet records at last year’s Yukon championship as well.

“We did AA and AAAs and everyone had smiles on their faces,” said Glacier Bears head coach Malwina Bukszowana. “I was very happy with the kids, especially the older kids. They had very good performances, so we’re looking forward if they go to compete Outside. They look good here, but we have to see them with the faster swimmers. They worked hard on the times and they are for sure much better than they were.”

The Glacier Bears will be taking a large team to the Kamloops Classic in B.C. at the end of May.

RESULTS

Top-three aggregate standings

Girls 10-and-under

1st Ruby Lieu-Ashthorn (Glacier Bears)

2nd Luanda Pronovost (Glacier Bears)

3rd Amelia Barrault (Glacier Bears)

Boys 10-and-under

1st Christopher Blakesley (Glacier Bears)

2nd Brennan Palmieri (Haines Dolphins)

3rd Cooper Muir (Glacier Bears)

Girls 11-12

1st Rennes Lindsay (Glacier Bears)

2nd Hannah Kingscote (Glacier Bears)

3rd Madison Ramsay (Glacier Bears)

3rd Brooklyn Massie (Glacier Bears)

3rd Cassidy Cairns (Glacier Bears)

Boys 11-12

1st Thomas Bakica (Glacier Bears)

2nd Aidan Harvey (Glacier Bears)

3rd Victor-Emile Thibeault (Glacier Bears)

Girls 13-and-over

1st Cassis Lindsay (Glacier Bears)

2nd Emily Crist (Glacier Bears)

3rd Dana Sellars (Glacier Bears)

3rd Shailyn Moore (Glacier Bears)

Boys 13-and-over

1st Matt Blakesley (Glacier Bears)

2nd Luke Bakica (Glacier Bears)

3rd Nathan Muir-Cressman (Glacier Bears)

Contact Tom Patrick at

tomp@yukon-news.com