Swim Shark excels at Westerns

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The lone competing member from the Strathmore Silver Sharks Swim Club, Marina Laycraft, represented the club well at the Western Canadian Championships in Edmonton from Feb. 19-21.
“She did really well actually, this is her second time at Western Nationals, and I think sometimes it can be different when you’re racing at such a high competition level. I think she handled the stress wonderfully (and) learned some new things (about) how she races and really stepped up to the plates,” said Jenn Mertz, Silver Sharks coach.
Laycraft performed so well that she met Mertz’s expectations and did not lose any ground in the rankings.
“I think she met all the expectations that I had of her. She came out as high up as she went into each of her events, she swam two events, one on Thursday and Friday,” said Mertz.
“When you go in, you’re entered in the event with a time and you’re placed according to the age groups.”
The atmosphere at the swim meet for was fun both Laycraft and Mertz.
“It was really exciting, it’s great to be able to meet with the big teams. Marina being 16, looking forward to perhaps thinking about universities and talking to their clubs,” said Mertz.
Next up for the club is the age group south trials that will be taking place in Calgary from Feb. 27 to Mar. 1.
“I think from a coach’s perspective, it’s a very exciting meet of a lot of new swimmers up and coming into the provincial competition world. I fully expect us to be making finals each night,” said Mertz.
“When kids gets chasing medals it gets very exciting and a lot of energy in that meet.”