PORT HAWKESBURY: The February 15-17 weekend marks the first of two major competitions the Port Hawkesbury Antigonish Swim Team (PHAST) has been training for since September 2018’s first workout.
Nova Scotia’s AA Championships (preciously Junior Championships) was held at Acadia University. All teams from Nova Scotia were in attendance: Sydney to Yarmouth, with a total of 114 swimmers.
PHAST was there to race.
Coach Allen comments that “the team had 90 percent in-season and best times during the weekend, and all swimmers contributed to the team’s 5/11 team ranking. In fact, every swimmer contributed positively to the success of the meet.
“The competition during the weekend had all members of PHAST swimming morning preliminary sessions trying to qualify for the evening finals.”
Senior swimmer Hannah Austen goes on, “Morning swims have to be done fast enough to get in top 6 – and get a good lane, but not too fast. You have to do it again. Sometimes [most times] you have to race more than one individual race, and relays.”
PHAST’s Lilly Poffenroth adds, “We train twice a day during the year to get us used to that.”
There is no doubt that the team’s performance was only possible because of the personal performances by a number of standouts.
Hannah Austen placed fifth in the 200m Freestyle, third in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke, and third in the 200m Medley.
Mariah Austen placed fourth in the 100m Backstroke, third in the 50m Backstroke, second in the 200m Backstroke, and third in the 200m Medley.
Baileigh Bekkers placed sixth in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke.
Malcolm Cameron placed first in the 200m Breaststroke with a new team record performance.
Emma Crispo placed fifth in the 100m and 200m and third in the 50m Breaststroke.
Zack Elsworth placed eighth in the 50m Freestyle, third in the 100m Breaststroke, and fourth in the 100m Freestyle.
Meghan Hayes placed seventh in the 50m Backstroke and 200m Freestyle, and third in the 100m Butterfly.
Olivia Langley achieved several personal best times and contributed to the success of the women’s 13-14 relay squad.
Lily MacLean placed fifth in the 200m, fourth in the 50m Freestyle, and first in the 100m Breaststroke.
Colleen MacLeod placed seventh in the 100m Breaststroke, sixth in the 50m Backstroke and 50m Breaststroke, fifth in the 50m, and third in the 100m Freestyle.
Matthew Penner placed third in the 50m Freestyle, second in the 200m Breaststroke, first in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke, and 50m, 100m and 200m Butterfly winning him a gold medal for Male Highest Points.
Lily Poffenroth placed second in the 100m and 200m Backstroke, first in the 200m Medley, first in the 100m and 50m Freestyle winning a silver medal for Female Highest Points earned.
The women’s 13-14 Relay team placed second in the 400m Freestyle.
The women’s 15-and-over relay team placed third in 400m Freestyle, and second in 200m Freestyle. The mixed relay placed fifth in the 400m Freestyle and third in the 200. I.M. Relay.
PHAST will see action in Pictou on February 23 where developmental squad will compete in the Nova Tech competition, followed by the AAA squad competing on March 1 at the David Fry Senior Championships in Halifax.
Full details of our performances and team details can be found at www.PHAST.ca.