All 10 Haines Dolphins swimmers who competed in Whitehorse earlier this month at the Ryan Downing Memorial Swim Meet broke personal records.
Dolphins head coach Jackie St. Clair traveled with 10 swimmers to the meet where they swam with five Canadian swim teams.
Pacific Ricke, 10, beat the meet records for the girls 10 and under 200-meter individual medley and girls 10 and under 400-meter individual medley.
“It’s big achievement,” St. Clair said. “Holding the meet record means that at that particular swim meet, she is the fastest girl in her age group to ever swim those events.”
Ricke swam the 400-meter individual medley for the first time at the meet. She was so exhausted she didn’t realize she performed so well.
“I didn’t know I broke a record,” Ricke said. “I was so tired I didn’t see my time. One of my friends told me a little bit later. I felt excited.”
The other Dolphins swimmers swam better than they ever had before.
“Every single swimmer got at least two best times, which is super awesome,” St. Clair said.
The records were more impressive because the athletes swam in a 25-meter, rather than 25-yard, pool adding an additional six feet per lap.
The Dolphins earned 13 first place finishes, six second place finishes and 11 third place finishes.
“It was my first meet as a coach with this team, but it was really encouraging seeing all the best times,” St. Clair said. “It means these kids are improving even in the first 10 weeks of practice. Everybody is improving their technique and building strength.”
The Dolphins will participate in a qualifying meet on Nov. 16 in preparation for the regional championship meet, “Southeast Champs,” at Ketchikan in December.