Great Weekend in Annacortes

October 5, 2011

The purpose this past weekend in Annacortes: to get some experience racing new swimmers in a new pool in a new part of North America.  Twenty-five Richmond Rapids attended the annual ThunderBird Invitational in Annacortes, Washington. 

            The result: some great finishes and times.  Rapids swimmers achieved top 3 placings in most events, a higher than expected level of fitness, and participated in an amazing meet finishing relay.

            Medalists for the Rapids were: 

Brandon Crawford (13) silvers 100IM/200 IM, bronzes 50fly/100 fly/50 free.

Brandon De Costa (15) golds 50 breast/50free/100 free, silvers 50 fly/50 back, bronzes 100 IM/200 IM/100 fly. 

Nicholaas Dekker (15) golds 200 IM/100 back/50 fly/100 breast/50 back/100 IM/100 fly, silvers 50 free/50 breast, bronze 100 free. 

William Dekker (12) silvers 50 breast/100 IM, bronzes 50 fly/100 breast.  Paula Gosse (15) bronze 100 fly. 

Michael Jakac-Sinclair (14) gold 200 IM/50 breast/50 fly/100 free/100 breats/100 IM/50 free/100 fly, silver 50 back/100 back. 

Jess Jones (12) bronze 100 breast. 

Emma Letts (14) bronze 50 fly/50 back.

Jerry Liu (12) golds 200 IM/100 back/50 fly/100 free/100 breast/50 back/50 free. 

Nathan Muszynski (16) silvers 200 IM/100 back/100 free/100 breast/100 IM/100 fly, bronzes 50 breast/50 fly. 

Tiffany Orr (16) golds 50 breast/50 back/50 free, silvers 100 back/50 fly/100 free/100 breast/100 IM, bronze 200 IM. 

Nicole Welsh (14) bronze 100 fly. 

Serena Xu (13) gold 50 breast, silver 100 IM.

            For Rapids Head Coach Robert Pettifer it was a great opportunity to see where his team was after the summer break.  He was pleasantly surprised to see just how fast swimmers were going and at the skills they displayed. 

“I think swimmers this year came back in better shape than they have ever.  It shows that they are thirsty for success this year and are willing and able to put the work in.”

The culminating race of the weekend was a challenge relay between the best swimmers on each of the largest three teams.  The Richmond swimmers didn’t disappoint.  The boys won their race while the girls were second in a tight finish.

The Rapids gear up for their second meet of the year at UBC as they take part in the VPSC Invitational at the end of October.