Orcas grab eight ‘AA’ qualifying times at junior provincials
The Battlefords Kinsmen Orcas finished in third place among small swim clubs at the Junior ‘A’ Provincials in Moose Jaw this past weekend, amassing 299 points despite only four athletes from the club competing.
Elizabeth Johnson, Zane Miller, Slade Pruden, and Rowan Tkatchuk managed 21 top-3 finishes and set eight ‘AA’ provincial qualifying times.
“The fact that our club finished third is very impressive,” Coach Ally MacLeod said. “The final results for the small clubs placed Swift Current in first with 17 athletes and Lloydminster in second with 18 athletes. For us to be ranked just behind those clubs, who have amazing coaches and very talented athletes, with only four athletes on our roster, is so exciting.”
Johnson led the way with four first-place finishes and four second-place finishes in the girls 11-12 age category. She also posted six ‘AA’ provincial qualifying times, which are times good enough to compete in the combined Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan Provincial Championships (ManSask), where teams from Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and even British Columbia compete. Johnson already swam under the “AA” time standard when she competed in the 50-metre freestyle back in December.