Speed begets speed.
Recently, a pair of Coquitlam swimmers pushed each other to the first national records for the Hyack Swim Club in years.
Madisen Jacques, 12, set the Canadian mark for her age group in the 100 m butterfly at the Swim BC Tier II provincial championships in Kamloops in March. Three races later, Peter Huang, who’s also 12, broke the long-standing national record for the 200 m fly in his age group.
In fact, their coach Andrew Lennstrom, the national records are the culmination of a wading pool’s worth of regional and provincial records Hyack swimmers have set since an aspiration board listing all sorts of records was posted at the club’s home pool in New Westminster.
“Our intent was to get rid of some of the old records from the 1970s,” Lennstrom said. “The kids are always looking at it.”
Madisen, who’s in Grade 7 at Scott Creek middle school, said she knew she had a good swim in her that day, but she was surprised to set a time that was one second faster than she’d ever swam the 100 m fly before.
Peter, who attends Grade 7 at Capitol Hill elementary in Burnaby, said he got some help from a new skin suit he was wearing for the first time.
“I didn’t have to focus on my underwater kicks so much, so the swim was easier,” he said of the sleek garb that cuts drag from the water.
Lennstrom said the records were a big moment for all the Hyack swimmers at the meet.
“It’s pretty exciting to be on the right side of the touch,” he said.
Madisen has been swimming for seven years. In addition to her newly-minted national record, she also possesses three provincial marks. And seeing as she’ll still be 12 for the rest of the season, more records could yet come her way.
Peter has three additional national records, seven provincial marks and 13 club bests. But he’s about to turn 13 so he’ll be starting a new age category with a clean slate.
He said he’s up for the challenge.
“It kinda motivates me to swim faster,” he said.
And keep his eyes on the prize, which is to one day break the Olympic records of American superstar swimmer Michael Phelps.
“Swimming is my talent,” he said. “I don’t want to waste this chance.”
Madisen also floats lofty ambitions, to compete at the Olympics and world championships. But mostly she just loves being in the water.
“I love racing and practices and the people I meet and my teammates,” she said.
