Sharks swim in Alberta Open

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore Silver Sharks Swim Club competed in the Alberta Open 1 Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 in Edmonton. Eight athletes from Strathmore qualified and six were able to attend the meet, which is for senior level swimmers girls ages 15 and over, and boys aged 16 and older.
“Each athlete had to qualify in at least one event to attend the meet and have made some amazing improvements in their performances,” said head coach Jen Mertz.
“One of my goals for this meet was for each athlete to make finals in at least one event, and all of the athletes succeeded. Finals are a very exciting accomplishment, you must finish in the top 30 for the event, if you do you get an opportunity to race a second time that day. I am very proud of everyone and how they swam.”
The next meets the Silver Sharks are attending are the NCSA meet in Airdrie and a junior meet in Calgary. In total Strathmore will have approximately 50 athletes racing.
“This is a very exciting time and one last opportunity to qualify for the upcoming Provincial and National level meets,” said Mertz.
“So far Marina Laycraft is the only athlete to qualify for Western Canadian Championships, but we have more athletes that are so close and are hopeful we can add a few more to the roster of attendees.”
The Western Canadian Championships will be held in Edmonton on the weekend of Feb 19-22. Following that meet are the Age Group Trials. Eight athletes qualified for that event, Kennedy Hampson, Shelby Laycock, Madison Laycraft, Rayanne Laycock, Ben Mertz, Megan Mertz, Martina Sidorenko and Kianna Doig. The Age Group Championships will be held the first weekend in March, and so far one athlete, Boris Kuljanin, has qualified.
A rare opportunity for the mid-season has opened up: the Silver Sharks have room to add a few new members to the club. More information can be found by going to www.strathmoresharks.com.