Rebecca Smith of the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club captured seven gold medals and broke three provincial records in the OSC Annual JP Fiset Invitational meet at Edmonton during the weekend.
Smith was one of numerous Catalina swimmers to make an impact in the meet. The Red Deer squad earned 27 medals — including 14 gold — while establishing 14 new club records and eight JP Fiset meet marks.
“This weekend was really exciting,” said Catalina head coach Mandi Smith. “Our kids were setting their goals high and soaring past them. It was cool to hear the announcer say ‘Red Deer Catalina’ so many times when announcing medalists.”
Rebecca Smith was golden in the 12 and under girls 200-metre backstroke and the 200m and 400m individual medley events, breaking Alberta records in all three. She also mined gold in the 100m back and the 50m, 200m and 400m freestyle.
Also winning gold medals were Josh Young (12 and under boys 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke), Madalyn Smith (13-14 girls 50m and 100m breast) and the 12 and under boys medley and free relay team of Young, Dylan MacDermaid, Justin Valentine and Bryan Schaerer.
Young and Rebecca Smith combined to set eight meet records, and along with Kristen Trepanier and the 12 and under girls medley and free relay teams, broke 14 Catalina records.
In addition, Sofia Iatrou qualified for Age Group trials, Dery Wang achieved provincial A standards, Ame Nieuwoudt achieved Western National qualifying times and Lainie Wareham and Haley Jaques managed Age Group national time standards.
Other Catalina medal winners:
Silver — Josh Young (12 and under boys 200m I.M.); Emma MacDermaid (13-14 girls 800m free); Madalyn Smith (13-14 girls 200m breast); Kristen Trepanier (13-14 girls 200m butterfly); Dery Wang (13-4 boys 50m breast); girls 13-14 medley relay team of Rebecca Smith, Madalyn Smith, Trepanier and MacDermaid.
Bronze — Dylan MacDermaid (12 and under boys 1,500m free, 200m fly); Young (400m free); Trepanier (100m fly); Emma MacDermaid (100m free); Breana Menzel (13-14 girls 50m breast); 13-14 girls free relay team of Smith, Smith, Trepanier and MacDermaid.