They pushed it to the brink.
The Hyack Swim Club came just a couple of races short of repeating as the B.C. provincial short course champions at last week's meet in Victoria.
Hyack, which is based out of Coquitlam, was leading into the fourth and final day before Chena Swim Club pulled away in one of the closest team title races.
A miniscule three-point lead would evaporate over the last handful of races, as Hyacks' 30 swimmers had mostly completed their events, and the North Vancouver-based rival still had a number of its 55 swimmers in the water.
"It really came down to the final few races, we didn't have the numbers (Chema) did and the last race they had two who kind of took it away," Hyack head coach Mark Bottrill said.
Finishing second wasn't a catastrophe, though.
"We've been hitting at the top of the ranking for the past three years and been in the top-three mix each time," said Bottrill. "Everybody stood up and contributed, from the first-year guys right out of summer swimming to the veterans who've been here before."
Powered by 12-year-old
Ethan Laing of New Westminster, the Hyack club exited the meet with a multitude of highlights.
Laing won seven gold medals - including four individual events.
He dominated the 200-and 400-metre individual medley and 100-and 200m breaststroke, while also helping win three relay events.
"He's got the body of a swimmer, he enjoys the sport and is a tremendous racer. (Laing) knows how to push himself in a race," said Bottrill.
Other big Burnaby/New Westminster district winners included 12-year-old Brian Ni, who won individual gold in the 200-, 400-and 1,500m freestyle, while also earning five bronze, including three on relay teams.
Sehajvir Singh, 11, placed first in the 50m free and shared gold on three Hyack relay teams in a seven-medal showing.
Dima Lim, 12, also earned three relay gold medals. Maria Caray, Igor Gasovic, Grace Lin, Inder Pooni and Tara Shirbani also medalled for the Hyack club.
