Though she has moved up an age category, Whitehorse Glacier Bears swimmer Hannah Kingscote had an eerily similar result at this year’s B.C. AAA Swim Championships as last year’s.
Last year her best result was sixth place in the 100-metre backstroke, setting a club record. That’s exactly what she did at this year’s AAA short-course meet in Victoria, March 2-5.
“I think I did good. I kind of wish I did a little bit better, but I made two finals and I bettered all my times, so I guess I did pretty good,” said Kingscote.
Kingscote placed sixth in the 100 back in the girls 14-15 division and set a new Glacier Bears record of 1:06.23, shaving almost a full second off her previous best time in the event.
The 14-year-old also placed 16th in the 200 back at 2:29.70 (after swimming it at 2:28.08 in the preliminary).
Kingscote considers herself a backstroke specialist, particularly in the 100-metre distance. What does she like about the backstroke?
“I don’t know — you can breathe the whole time,” she said.
Kingscote was one of five from the Glacier Bears club to qualify for the AAAs but the only to attend.
“It was different being down there just by myself, but it gave me time to just focus on myself and my own races,” said Kingscote.
Kingscote placed 17th in the 50-metre freestyle after losing a swim-off for a spot in the B final to a Kelowna swimmer who she tied in the preliminary.
She also took 25th in the 100-metre butterfly at 1:09.90.
Kingscote competed at her first Canadian Age Group Championships last season in Calgary and hopes to qualify for the championship again this year.
“I’d like to thank Swim Yukon for the high performance funding and Better Bodies for their high performance training,” said Kingscote.
Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com