NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA CHANNEL CATS
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Two members of the Orillia Channel Cats Swim Club recently competed at The Speedo Eastern Canadian Swimming Championships held in Pointe Claire Quebec.
Swimmers from all over eastern Canada were in attendance and had to achieve the Eastern National qualifying standard in order to attend.
Blythe Wieclawek, 16, and Taryn Fenton, 17, both qualified and competed in their respective events.
Wieclawek qualified for finals in all seven of her events and set new long course club records in the 50-free (27.15), 100-free (59.36), 200-backstroke (2:24.21) and 50-butterfly (27.72). She also won bronze in the 50-metre butterfly. Wieclawek posted personal bests in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 50 butterfly, 100 freestyle and 50 freestyle.
Teammate Taryn Fenton competed in the 50-metre butterfly and improved her seed time by almost half a second. Fenton had qualified for the meet with her short course time (25 metre pool), and her final time at the competition earned her the long course (50 meter pool) 50-metre butterfly Eastern National qualifying time (30.06).
Fenton also competed at The Ontario Spring Forward Invitational earlier this month in Markham, posting personal best times in the 100 backstroke and 200 Individual Medley and qualified for finals in the 100 butterfly.
“I am very impressed with both athletes. This was their first Eastern Championships and they demonstrated resiliency and perseverance leading up to the meet as well as during the meet,” said Head Coach Meredith Thompson-Edwards.
“Performing at a high level adds pressure to athletes, however they did not let that negatively affect their races. Hard work pays off," added the coach.
The Channel Cats are heading to Barrie this weekend for an Invitational meet. Swimmers from Sr Novice, Bronze, Silver and Gold will be in attendance.
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