Swimmers off to Calgary

Swimmers off to Calgary
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby NOW assistant editor
Published Nov. 6, 2002

Norm Ng is expected to continue his winning ways after picking up gold medals in the 200 and 400 freestyle races at the Vancouver Pacific Invitational last month. The young Hyack has also earned top- 10 finishes when competing at the senior level, against swimmers more than four years his senior.
The Calgary meet will feature many of the top young swimmers in Western Canada, and [Mark Bottrill] admitted the B.C. teams may be hard pressed to win medals against the rapidly improving Alberta teams.

Cascade Speed Meet will bring together some of the best young swimmers from Western Canada

The Hyack Swim Club is in the midst of a youth movement.
The club, based out of Canada Games Pool, is expecting big things from a small group of young swimmers who will be heading to the Cascade Speed Meet in Calgary, Alta. this weekend.
"This is a major invitational and a good assessment point for our chances at the western Canadians," team director Mark Bottrill said this week.
"Bragging rights will be on the line," he said. "And I expect our club to be in the top five."
But to make that lofty goal, the youth movement is going to have to perform up to expectations.
The elite members of Hyacks' age class swimmers are 13-year-old Katy Milburs, 14-year-old Erica Beaton, 15-year-olds Norm Ng and Leo Ho, plus 16-year-old Brad Reid.
As the youngest of the group, Milburs is just beginning to perform up to her capabilities, said her coach. "She's grown up nice and tall, and has just started to ride a nice development curve," Bottrill said. "We have great hopes for her, and she doesn't even know how good she can be."
Beaton, who has sprouted to over six feet tall, was the fastest under-18 freestyler on the Hyacks last year, and she'll be looking to improve on her times. "We get to unleash her this weekend," said her coach. "She's the real deal."
Norm Ng is expected to continue his winning ways after picking up gold medals in the 200 and 400 freestyle races at the Vancouver Pacific Invitational last month. The young Hyack has also earned top- 10 finishes when competing at the senior level, against swimmers more than four years his senior.
Ho holds the Hyack team record for the breaststroke and has won national medals at the youth level. With a little hard work, he hopes to make senior national times this season, said his coach.
Rounding out the youth team is 16-year-old Brad Reid, who finished seventh in Canada for his age class last year. This season, Reid is expected to do well in the gruelling 1,500-metre race.
The Calgary meet will feature many of the top young swimmers in Western Canada, and Bottrill admitted the B.C. teams may be hard pressed to win medals against the rapidly improving Alberta teams.