Hyack Swim Club swimmers showed the promise of future Olympics at last week's age group nationals in Calgary.
Sherry Liu, 18, and 17-year-old Stefan Milosevic shared seven medals at last week's nationals, while 13-year-old up-and-comer Wendy Yang made three finals, including a silver medal in the 50-metre butterfly and a third-place finish in the 50m free.
Liu, who will be a freshman at Harvard in September, won four freestyle races, from the 200 to 1,500m, while also placing in the 400m individual medley.
"(The meet) really showcased the nextlevel kid and she certainly is one of them," said Hyack swim coach Mark Bottrill. "She was the clear class of the field in every event."
Liu, who won gold in the 800m at the senior long course nationals held earlier in Edmonton, won the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500m in Calgary.
"She's a top prospect, for sure," Bottrill added. "Everything on the day has to be right, but she has everything anybody else has to be the best in the country, and she seems to be keen to want to."
Milosevic, who just turned 17 and earned a spot on Canada's team to the junior Pan Pacific championships following a strong showing at the senior nats, won both the 17-and-18 men's 200 and 1,500m free and was second in the 400m IM.
Milosevic's defence of the 200m free that he won last year as a 16-year-old was particularly difficult, given the deep pool of sprinters at that distance, Bottrill said.
The Cariboo Hill Secondary student will begin training at the University of B.C. in preparation for the Pan Pacs to be held in Hawaii later in August.
Yang's two medals also helped the recent provincial championship Hyack club place a best-ever 12th at the age group nationals. Yang also finished fourth in the 100m free.
Jasmine Whelan, 13, made the podium in the 200m breast. She also made finals in the breast in the 50 and 100m sprints.
Older sister Sara Whelan had final swims in five separate races and stroke disciplines, while Mia Bottrill and Chris Baker also got into the final eight in their respective fly events.
The overall result speaks highly of the quality of the Hyack swimmers that got to the meet, Bottrill added.
"Sara, Jasmine, Mia and Wendy are a core group of high-performance girls. - Every one of the girls brings a very particular specialty and skill set to the group," Bottrill said.
- tberridge@royalcityre cord.com
