{"id":3076,"date":"2018-01-20T13:27:12","date_gmt":"2018-01-20T11:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/e-spectations.com\/swimming\/?p=3076"},"modified":"2018-01-20T13:27:12","modified_gmt":"2018-01-20T11:27:12","slug":"westville-sprints-and-kzn-premier-champs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-spectations.com\/swimming\/2018\/01\/20\/westville-sprints-and-kzn-premier-champs\/","title":{"rendered":"Westville sprints and KZN Premier Champs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Westville Sprints and KZN Premier Champs ’17<\/h2>\n
\"Westville

Westville Sprints KZN Premier Champs takes place end November and end December 2017.  KZN Premier Champs doubles up at Commonwealth trials.<\/p><\/div>\n

November 2017:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Mom lands a contract at the City of Cape Town as a digital writer.  Monica and dad stay behind in KwaZulu Natal to continue with school and training.  The contract is not permanent work and moving to Cape Town is not viable at this point in time.<\/p>\n

Mica recovers well from the Swine flu strain as the anti-viral does its job. Training resumes in preparation for Westville Sprints and KZN Premier Champs. KZN Premier Champs is the  KwaZulu Natal regional Level 3, SANJ and SA youth Championship.  In 2017 the Championship doubles up as the 2018 Commonwealth trials, which are set to take place in April 2018, Gold Coast Australia.  Famous swimmers are competing at this event.<\/p>\n

It is the first time Mica will swim this Championship.  The rule states that any swimmer with Level 3 qualifying times has to participate in the KZN Premier Championship irrespective of age.  Monica swam Level 3 freestyle qualifying times at the age of nine. The events at this meet are 11 & Under.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Why do we hold Monica back?<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

Competing against the 11-year-old swimmers at the age of nine is not the right thing to do and we decided to sit the first year (that she swam L3 times) out.  It allows time for Monica to mature as a person to handle the level of competition as racing at this level is tough.<\/p>\n

Out-of-province visitors may apply to swim at this Championships.  If they win, they receive visitors medals.  Swimmers from all over South Africa convene in Durban to compete for better database times or qualifying times to level up. This makes racing at KZN Premier Championship challenging and requires more maturity than what a nine-year-old has.<\/p>\n

Westville Sprints 2017:<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n
\"Westville

Westville Sprints 2017<\/p><\/div>\n

With the above in mind, we continue training for Westville Sprints in November.  Mica is the top female point scorer since 2014 when she was seven-years-old. (I.e. top female point scorer 8, 9 and this year 10 & Under).<\/p>\n

Top point scorers win a TYR voucher.  We put forward the difference and Monica choose a pair of goggles or anything that she may need for her kit every year.  Working for this voucher is a great motivator.  Monica really wants to give her best in swimming this meet every year.<\/p>\n

Westville Sprints is also a good indicator when we look at the bigger picture.  We use this Championship to see what and where we need to refine techniques for 2017’s KZN Premier champs.<\/p>\n

The indoor long course pool is still closed for repairs.  We swim Westville Sprints in the short course pool.<\/span><\/p>\n

Monica starts Westville Sprints on the first evening with a personal best in the 100m Freestyle of 1:08:08.  It is a seasonal best for her.  We are ecstatic and so happy that the whole year’s work pays off despite her six-weekly flu battle.<\/p>\n