Skip to content

Shuswap swimmer rises up the rankings in Canadian Swimming Trials

Huge improvement in first heat puts James Lebuke in top 10
16276682_web1_190410-SAA-James-Lebuke
James Lebuke of the Columbia-Shuswap Selkirks Swim Club made a 1.5 second improvement on his qualifying time in the 100m freestyle event at the Canadian Swimming Trials, jumping him from 29th in qualifiers to ninth place in the competition. (Barry Healey photo)

Salmon Arm swimmer James Lebuke made a dramatic rise up the rankings during the second day of the Canadian Swimming Trials in Toronto, April 4.

The Canadian Swimming Trials is a national competition with strict qualifying guidelines, pitting the top swimmers in the country from each age and skill category against one another.

READ MORE: Selkirks strike gold in provincial swimming championships

The event serves as a part of the selection process for the Canadian national team as well, with some of the top swimmers moving on to compete on the national team in world championships and the Pan American Games.

During competition on April 3, James Lebuke of the Columbia-Shuswap Selkirks Swim Club powered through his heat in the 100m long-course freestyle event with a time of 50.47 seconds – a 1.5 second improvement on his qualifying time.

READ MORE: Selkirks swimmer powers to national level

This strong performance in the freestyle event moves Lebuke up from 29th overall in his age group to ninth place in the country. According to Selkirks’ coach Barry Healey, this is a great sign for Lebuke and only two swimmers in the 18 and under age group have managed to break the top 20 in national rankings.

Competition in the Canadian Swimming Trials runs until April 7 in Toronto.

READ MORE: Selkirks swimmers make medal-worthy finishes in Regional A event


 

@Jodi_Brak117
jodi.brak@saobserver.net

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

16276682_web1_190410-SAA-James-Lebuke2
Selkirks’ swimmer James Lebuke is competing in the Canadian Swimming Trials in Toronto, April 3-7, racing for a chance to be a part of Canada’s national team. (Barry Healey photo)