Jennifer Haczkewicz, 13, recently returned from the Man-Sask "AA" Championship Short Course Swim Meet that was held in Regina as the lone qualifier from the Yorkton Storm Speed-swimming Club.
The swim meet took place over the course of four days in Regina and is designed to showcase the fastest swimmers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, hence the name: Man-Sask. The name is really a misnomer nowadays though, because the meet also attracts the top swimmers from Alberta and Western Ontario.
At the meet, Jennifer got to swim in her seven fastest events. Although she didn't qualify for the finals in any of the events, she gained a lot of priceless experience.
"The swimmers from the other three provinces are really quick," said Haczkewicz. "It is great to see where us Saskatchewan kids stack up."
In all of her events, Haczkewicz finished in the top-5 swimmers in her province, showing improvements from previous meets.
"As long as my times continue to improve, I know that my training is working," she said.
Haczkewicz's times in two of her events - 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly - were fast enough for her to qualify next year in the event as a 14-year-old.
"Having qualified for the meet next year already takes a lot of the pressure off me, so now I can just concentrate on technique and getting faster," she said.
Haczkewicz and the rest of her YSSC teammates take to the pool in Saskatoon the third week in April when they compete at a meet hosted by the Saskatoon Lazers. This will be the first long course meet of the season for the club and its swimmers. The season will wind down in June with the Long-Course "A" Provincial Meet being hosted in Moose Jaw. Swimmers that post "AA" times during the Long-Course season will qualify to swim at the Man-Sask Meet that will be hosted by Winnipeg in July.
