KZN Beavers Winter Champs 2016
KZN Beavers winter champs 2016 took place from 2-4 September. Every swimming club host an annual swimming championship, raising funds for the club giving swimmers an opportunity to swim and log pre-season database times.
400 m Freestyle – a first
The 2016 KZN Beavers winter champs allowed Monica to swim her first 400 m Freestyle. As parents, we are always nervous with the first-time-swim as so much can go wrong and Monica is still young.
Monica never disappoints. We expect a 6- minute swim on the 400 m and she delivers a 5:38:56 placing second in her heat, swimming with 11-12-year-old swimmers. We are extremely proud of this swim taken into consideration that it is a first. Long relaxed strokes which makes one think there is still petrol in the tank at the end.
The other factor to take into account is that swimming takes place after 18:00 pm which is a total out-of-routine activity for this 9-year-old.
Monica’s comment after this event:
I love it. Want to swim this definitely again!
Tough racing at KZN Beavers winter champs 2016
Racing against the 10-year-olds going onto 11 at the age of 9. Tough business.
As we all know, racing is tough when you are 9. Reason being, that most events are 9-10, 12 & Under or 14 & Under. Being the first 9-year-old to touch the wall comes at a price as most of the other swimmers (1-3 or 1/2) are close to their 11th birthdays (more experience, more years of swimming, therefore stronger swimmers).
Monica, however, learned at a young age that she must swim her own race and that age should not matter. By the time these girls are 16 they will all be swimming in the open category and any swimmer worth their keep knows that they will compete against the older swimmers. So you need to know your business, be brave and strong.
As training buddy (Mom) and Dad-coach, we also notice that the competitive environment is good for Monica. She swims her best times when she competes against the older swimmers. That is, after all, why we love the age group meets where swimmers swim according to their times and not their age.
Star of the show, 50-meter breaststroke
What a race! The 50-meter breaststroke also came as a surprise as Monica put up a fight for her medal and personal best. Medals are still important to her as it is a reward for her work.
More important, is her body position and streamlining in the water, which we will cover in another post. This is the result of 4 months of hard work. Breaststroke is important to us as it will bring down her Individual medley times, so we are always working on the stroke and fast, effective, swimming.
Summary of events, times and PB’s:
- 12 & U 400 Free @ 3:58:56
- 14 & Under 200 Back @ 3:10:05 (PB)
- 10 & Under 200 Free @ 2:47:68 (PB & bronze)
- Female 9-10 Events:
- 100 Back @ 1:28:20 (Placed 4th)
- 200 IM @ 3:12:53 (Bronze medal)
- 50 Free @ 34:18 (PB & Bronze medal)
- 100 Breast @ 1:45:44 PB (placed 4th
- 50 Fly @ 40:71
- 100 Free @ 1:16:84 (placed 4th)
- 50 Back @ 40:88 (Placed 4th)
- 50 Breast @ 47:32 (PB & bronze)
- 100 Fly @ 1:38:44 (Bronze)
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