Strong start to season for youth swim team

Melissa Dingle

Belleville Youth Swim Team (BYST)  – including Prince Edward County members – swam well at the first meet of the season.

“Twenty-four members competed and achieved close to 75 per cent best times.  Many athletes experienced huge time improvements and the team combined to drop over nine minutes in total,” said Brandon Oates, head coach. “The BYST was definitely one of the better performing teams during the competition at the brand new Cornell Community Centre in Markham.”

Oates said the demand for new eight lane, 25m pools to race in is growing and the BYST feels lucky to have one of the best at the Templeman Menninga Aquatic Centre.

Leading the charge was Melissa Dingle, who won six events and placed third in another, plus even broke the 400m IM team record in the last event of the weekend clocking in at 5:18.46.  Stephanie Cairns brought home a couple first place finishes in the 100m freestyle and 100m breaststroke, as well as one second and one third.  Lauren Taylor swam incredibly well with all personal best times, finishing second overall in the 50m and 800m freestyle and a receiving three third place finishes.

Mackenzie Latter earned a few third place finishes in the 50m, 100m and 800m freestyle.  Ashley Allaire came in second in the 200m breaststroke and third in the 100m butterfly.  Katelyn Cairns had a strong showing in the 200m freestyle to place second overall.  Josh Lamoureux finished third in the 200m backstroke.

Other top 8 finishers included Janna Arnold, Noah Brooks, Thomas Butler, Jenna O’Neill, Joseph Rittenhouse, Graeme Smith and Gracey Vanberkel.  BYST athletes with 100 percent best times were Janna Arnold, Thomas Butler, Nikki Cairns, Nicholas Cinnamon, Isabella Isbester, Josh Lamoureux, Leah McGillen, Jenna O’Neill, Joseph Rittenhouse, Graeme Smith and Lauren Taylor.  Natalie Butler, Henryk Luczynski, Maddie McGillen, Jeremy Moher, Leah Oster and Elizabeth Peterson all had great performances.

Up next for swimmers are competitions in Barrie and Amherstview.  In November, the BYST will host their first swim meet of the season at the Templeman Menninga Aquatic Centre / Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre.  For more information about the team, contact Head Coach, Brandon Oates, at 613-661-SWIM (7946) or visit www.byst.ca