The Breaker girls brought their A-game to the pool and powered their way to a new provincial record in the 12&U Girls 4x200 Freestyle Relay with a time of 9:34.86
In action at the 2012 BC AAA Long Course Swim Championships July 5-8 at Richmond’s Watermania, local speed swimmers Haley Bennett, Megan Romkes, Ayden Jager and Joanna Redenbach joined forces to help lead the RAC Breakers swim team to one of its best showings in club history.
The Breakers had 12 swimmers qualify for the big event, where they turned in a slew of personal best times and mined a lot of medals.
“Definitely one of our strongest showings,” said John Campbell, finishing his 12th season with the club. “They sure did bring their A-game,” he confirmed, adding “every single swimmer swam exceptionally well. In terms of our team’s performance we were 14th out of about 50 teams, and again we were the very best small team.”
Last year meet organizers starting keeping tabs on a points per swimmer, and the Breakers finished ranked 6th — this year they moved up two spots for 4th, “which really tells a story.
“Very proud,” said Campbell, pointing out it was the culmination of a lot of hard work, and that the Breakers took home a club high 30 medals.
“I always wonder how we’re going to better our results at meets like this,” he said, “but the kids just keep pushing the bar higher.”
Romkes, 12, also set a new meet record for the Girls 12&U 200 Fly with a PBT of 2:30.93, and was also good as gold in the 100 Fly.
Bennett, 12, “also had an outstanding meet,” as she had a number of other podium finishes — grabbing silver in the 800 Free and 400 IM, and bronze medals in the 100, 200 and 400 Free, as well as the 1KM Open Water swim.
Redenbach also garnered gold in her 50 Free and bronze in the 100 Fly.
Richelle Bruyckere, 14, bagged bronze medals in the 200 Fly and in the 2KM Open Water swim.
Simon Glimour, 12, carved out silver medals in the 12&U 100 Fly and the 1500 Free and bronze in the 200 Fly and 400 Free.
Maran Kokoszka, 15, secured silver medals in the 100 and 200 Back.
“They were unbeatable,” said Campbell, then relayed the story how “a coach from one of the other teams came up to me on the final day and made the point the Breakers’ ‘have developed a culture of winning.’”
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In two weeks, Campbell, assistant coach Gary Cheung and eight Breakers leave for the Far Westerns in California. One of the biggest age group meets in the world with over 1,500 swimmers.