Twelve-year-old Josh Young led the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club to a strong showing at the Speedo age group and senior provincial championships in Edmonton during the weekend.
Young became the fastest swimmer in the country while winning the 12-year-old boys’ 100 and 200-metre breaststroke.
His times were one minute 11.17 seconds in the 100m and 2:34.08 in the 200m
“It was fun to have so many team members there to support Josh and cheer him on as he raced his last weekend as a 12 year-old,” said Catalina head coach Mandi Smith. “To witness Canadian swimming history made by one of our own athletes was a proud moment for all of us.”
Young also won gold in the 50m breaststroke and 200m Individual Medley and silver in the 200m freestyle.
Rebecca Smith, 13, won the 50 and 100m freestyle, 50 and 200m backstroke and 200 and 400m I.M. while taking second in the 200m freestyle.
The relay team of Smith, Breana Menzel, Kristen Trepanier and Emma MacDermaid won gold in 14-and-under girls’ 400m medley and silver in the 400m freestyle relay.
Kennedy Townsend, 12, finished second in the 800 and 1,500m freestyle and 200m butterfly while Trepanier, 14, was second in the 100 and 200m butterfly.
Madalyn Smith, 15, won silver in the 50m breaststroke.
The girls’ 14-and-under 800m freestyle relay team of Rebecca Smith, Emma Barschel, Trepanier and MacDermaid were second.
MacDermaid, 14, placed third in the 400 and 800m freestyle while Marshal Parker, 17, was third in the 50m butterfly and 200m I.M.
Menzel, 14, took third in the 50 and 200m breaststroke and Brianna Bailey, 18, third in the 200m breaststroke.
Bailey, Parker and Madalyn Smith will compete at the Canadian summer nationals in Pointe Claire, Que., July 17-20, while Bailey, Haley Jaques, MacDermaid, Parker, Madalyn Smith, Rebecca Smith, Trepanier, Lainie Wareham and Young will be at the Canadian age group nationals in Montreal, July 24-29.
Bailey and Parker will compete in the Canada Summer Games, Aug. 2-10, in Sherbrooke, Que., as part of Team Alberta.