SLSC swimmers keeping busy

In a weekend that was about as busy as any on the schedule of the Sudbury Laurentian Swim Club (SLSC) calendar, the local group sent swimmers to three different events across the province Jan. 18-20.

Five up-and-coming young talents – Farah Abou-Rabia, Kelly Thompson, Everett Smith, Malek Abou-Rabio and Nina Kucheran – made their way to Etbicoke, participating in the 2013 A-B meet.

“All of these kids swam really, really well,” said head coach Dean Henze.

The bulk of the SLSC swimmers, young and old, were in North Bay for the Northeastern Ontario Regional Developmental meet, with more than 50 local athletes taking part.

“It was a good chance for our little guys to watch our big guys in action,” said Henze. “They were putting on quite a show.”

The highlight, according to Henze, might well have been the performance of Christopher Eastick, coming through with three or four personal best times right in the middle of a gruelling training regimen generally not conducive to establishing new personal bests.

Finally, 17-year-old Kelly Hotta joined up with some of the Laurentian varsity swimmers, taking part in the Ontario Cup races in the GTA.

Hotta, who will be attending the University of Western Ontario in the fall, finished fourth in the women’s 200-metre freestyle event, adding a 12th place finish in the 200-metre individual medley.

The SLSC crew heads to Sault Ste Marie this weekend, taking part in the Dave Kensit Championships.