The benefit of hindsight is a rare gift for a young swimmer.
Count Alycia Weber among the lucky as the Foothills Stingray booked a return trip to the Alberta Summer Games to lead a contingent of seven teammates at the elite youth sport showcase next month in Leduc.
“It was kind of different because you get the atmosphere of swimming with different people and get to see other people’s strengths to help you get better as a swimmer yourself,” Weber said of her first experience. “I met a lot of my friends that I talk to today from that team from a couple years ago and I’m going to go to Summer Games with them again this year.”
Weber was part of an eight-person strong team of Stingrays at the 2014 Summer Games Airdrie in which she picked up three individual and three relay medals.
“I didn’t know what to expect when I first went. I was really nervous and didn’t know if these other girls were faster, if I was in good placing,” she said. “Now, I have the whole Summer Games atmosphere at the outset.”
Foothills sent 12 athletes to the Summer Games Trials on June 11 of which seven earned qualification. Eligible swimmers, those aged 11 to 15, raced in three events and had their times added up and measured against the world record. The top-three qualifiers from each age group were selected.
Weber didn’t leave much room for doubt at trials. The 14-year-old finished first in the 100m backstroke, 100m IM and was second in the 50m butterfly to easily qualify.
“I’d like to swim fast and be a role model for some of the younger girls,” Weber added. “A lot of the younger kids in the swim club are going too and they look up to us older kids.”
The plethora of first-time qualifiers includes Georgia Podmore, Will Gonzales, Brandon Isabella, Roann Clifford, Mercedes McFayden and Evonne Henning.
Stingray Justin d’Ailly also made the team, but will not attend the Games.
“I just see it as the next step in my swimming,” Clifford said. “I want to get lots of best times, but my main goal is to work hard and whatever happens, happens.”
Clifford, 11, qualified in the 100m backstroke, 100m IM and 50m butterfly.
The seven Stingrays make up one-quarter of the 28 athlete contingent of Zone 2 swimmers representing the sprawling geographic region which stretches from Banff to Drumheller, Olds to High River.
“Any other travel meets you would have to get your own food, your own hotel,” McFayden said. “I think it’s going to be fun to meet everyone else.”
Both in and out the pool, the Summer Games represents a brand new experience for the fledgling swimmers. The event is expected to feature over 3,000 athletes.
“For me, it feels like a mini Olympics,” Henning said. “Because you hang out with your zone and compete against other zones and when you win it’s sort of a big deal.”
The 2016 Alberta Summer Games run July 14-17 in Leduc.
For more information go to 2016asg.com
Trial run
A pair of up and coming Stingrays put in a classic performance earlier this month.
Genevyeve Lindenback and Mackenzie Hurd both earned Meet Qualifying Time swims at the Corral City Classic to officially earn their ticket to the Age Group Trials in Lethbridge.
Hurd, 9, achieved the feat in the 200m freestyle. Lindenback, who celebrated her 10th birthday last week, made her breakthrough in the 400m freestyle.
She shattered her personal best in the event by 17 seconds.
“For about a month and a half now, I’ve been training at home, I’ve been eating better plus I’ve been swimming harder,” Lindenback said. “I set my mind on best time, don’t get an MQT, just be proud of myself for getting a best time.”
Both swimmers competed at the Age Group Trials last weekend.
For results from the meet check the next issue of the Western Wheel.
