Ten Airdrie swimmers from the Nose Creek Swim Association (NCSA) made a splash at Swim Alberta's long-course provincial championships, held in Edmonton from March 17 to 20.
According to NCSA coach Alexx Diep, many of the club's 18 provincial participants qualified for the finals in their respective age groups and competition categories. He highlighted the achievements of three athletes from Airdrie in particular – 14-year-old Olivia Hatch, 13-year-old Jayden Wong, and 18-year-old Sean Penner.
"Olivia Hatch had a breakthrough swim, qualifying for the Junior National level in the 50-metre freestyle," said Diep in a written response. "She will travel back to Edmonton again later in April to contest the event against the rest of the bests in western Canada."
Hatch also came close to the same achievement on March 20 in the 100-metre freestyle, according to Diep, who added she came close but fell just short of achieving the western Canadian time standards.
Wong was the highest-scoring NCSA swimmer at the provincial meet. Diep said the 13-year-old scored 18 of the club's 60 cumulative points, thanks to his qualification for the finals in all five of his events.
"Jayden made finals in all the events he was entered, five of which were the A-finals, where the top 10 in the age category would go head-to-head vying for a podium finish," Diep said.
Penner was the NCSA's second-highest points-earner at provincials, according to Diep. He said the St. Martin de Porres alumnus brought home 14 points thanks to his qualification for the finals in all the events he entered.
While provincials have wrapped up and the swimmers are currently enjoying a week off from training, Diep noted NCSA swimmers still have plenty of competitions to prepare for in the coming weeks.
He said the club is sending Linda Bruce and Maddie Murch to the masters provincial championships at Repsol Sports Centre in Calgary on April 2 and 3, while three of the club's top swimmers from Airdrie – including Penner, Nathan Wong, and an NCSA teammate from Calgary – will compete at the Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria, B.C. from April 5 to 10.
The club's swimmers will be heading back up the Queen Elizabeth II Highway for yet another competition in Edmonton from April 21 to 24 – the Canadian Western National Swimming Championships. Airdrie swimmers who will compete at that meet include Hatch, Wong, and Penner.
