PHAST season in full swing

The Port Hawkesbury Antigonish Swim Team (PHAST) is back in the pool.

Thirteen swimmers from the club competed in the Age Group Development #1, Oct. 13 and 14, at Dalplex in Halifax, which marked the first meet of the season.

The Dalhousie University invitational is a pre-season snapshot of what training has yielded for PHAST members.

“Our goal was not on what speed we held during the race, but on the technique that drove it,” Coach Rob Allen said in a club press release.

”In a 10 to 11-month season, we have many meets each with its own set of objectives and goals.

“Many of our swims were within five per cent of personal bests, even though the swimmers have only been in the water for five weeks,” he added.

PHAST will conitnue its season in November, looking for significant gains in the push towards provincial qualification and national standards.

At the opening meet, the club garnered several top-eight finishes.

Hannah Austen took first in the 400m I.M. and eighth, in both the 200m and 100m breaststroke.

Mariah Austen dropped time in most of her events and helped lead the women’s relay team to a sixth-place finish.

Riley Avery swam to first in the 400m I.M. and second in the 800m freestyle.

Cole Beaver shaved valuable seconds and helped the men’s relay team take sixth place in the 200m freestyle.

Malcom Cameron stroked to third in the 50m butterfly, second in both the 100m and 50m freestyle, along with first - setting two team records, in the 200m and 100m breaststroke.

Josh Elsworth powered to eighth in both the 50m freestyle and butterfly, sixth in the 400m freestyle and 50m butterfly, along with third in the 100m freestyle.

Colleen Macleod stroked to fifth in the 50m butterfly, second in the 100m freestyle and first in the 50m freestyle, back and breaststroke.

Matthew Penner swam to second in the 50m and 100m breaststroke, 200m backstroke, and 1,500m freestyle (setting a new team record) and first in the 200m butterfly.

Lily Poffenroth took eighth in the 800m backstroke.

Anna Robinson powered to fifth in the 400m freestyle, fourth in the 200m backstroke and first with a new team record - in the 800m freestyle.

Baileigh Bekkers, Emma Crispo and Lily Maclean shaved seconds from their seed times, setting impressive new personal best times.