National Development Group
Long Course Season a Great Stimulus for Future Achievements

July 2009

Talented swimmers are not always victorious, but they rise to the occasion when they must. The long course season presented significant challenges and opportunities for our National Development swimmers. Their response defined them as genuine achievers destined to fulfill personal dreams and goals. The key to the group's exceptional performances resides in each swimmer's ability to focus everyday in practice, to always attend workouts prepared to work hard on all of the elements necessary for a strong competitive edge. This past long course season the National Development Group moved from a state of vast potential to a new role of dynamic competitors and consistent winners. These accolades are not easily achieved and more importantly are daunting to maintain and sustain. Reaching the peak of the mountain is always demanding, and camping out there extremely difficult. These beautiful moments of absolute joy and worthy achievement provide our swimmers with a stimulus to push forward with resolve and commitment; they understand what it takes to reach one's goals and are willing to endure the daily grind of hard work, and bear the emotional burden required to be a top level competitor. I think our National Development swimmers have learned that there are many anxious, even fearful moments in a swimming career, but as they move from one challenge to another, the worry dissipates. This insight translates into a firm resilience and a keen insight that with the swimming experience there will always be another race, another opportunity and one should not dwell on any single outcome but move on and learn. Our swimmers have discovered the source of swimming greatness: basically the ability to do the mundane, day in and day out, and the little things with passion and gusto.

There are a number of swimmers moving on to the National Group. I wish you well and congratulate you on this significant achievement. I look forward to many more chapters in your magical story and will be cheering you heartily from the deck.

To the NYAC Board, the Williams family and to the parents of the National Development Group, thanks for your support and generosity, it was deeply appreciated.

To the swimmers returning next season, have a relaxing and enjoyable summer.

See you in September.

Coach John
National Development Group

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Season Highlights

The achievements were many, and below is a list of some of the season's highlights…

CENTRAL REGIONS

- medalists included Jeffrey Turnock (2nd in the 200 free), Jonathan Brodie (1st in the 100 back and 100 breast, 3rd in the 800 free and 200 breast), Lev Oumanski (1st in the 100 free, 3rd in the 100 fly) and Razvan David (2nd in the 800 free)

- finalists (top 8) included Clement Cheng (8th in the 100 fly), Jacki Kicksee (4th in the 800 free), Joseph Lee (8th in the 1500 free), Maggie Runnalls (6th in the 1500 free, 8th in the 800 free), Patrick Malihan (5th in the 1500 free, 7th in the 400 and 800 free and 200 back), Stephanie Farkas (4th in the 1500 free) and Yaakov Oumanski (7th in the 50, 100 and 200 free, 8th in the 200 fly)

- Alex Hamilton recorded a new NYAC long course record for boys 13-14 in the 800 free (9:05.43)

PROVINCIALS

- medalists included Alex Hamilton (1st in the 400 and 800 free, 100 and 200 fly and 400 im, 2nd in the 200 free - he was also awarded the "IRON SWIMMER" award for having the highest combined points for the 800 free and 400im), Alex Jin (3rd in the 100 fly), Alex Mierzynski (1st in the 100 and 200 free, 2nd in the 400 free, 3rd in the 50 free and 200 back), Jocelyn Langballe (2nd in the 400 free), Razvan David (3rd in the 100 breast), Nathaniel Hu (1st in the 200 fly) and Youn-Ho Choi (1st in the 200 fly and 3rd in the 800 free)

- finalists (top 8) included Jeffrey Turnock (7th in the 400 free, 200 breast, 400im and 8th in the 1500 free), Jonathan Brodie (4th in the 100 breast, 5th in the 100 fly, 7th in the 200 fly, 8th in the 200 im, Mack Smith (5th in the 200 breast)

- special recognition goes out to our boys 12-13 relays who were 2nd in the 400 free relay (Hamilton, Brodie, Choi, Jin) and 3rd in both the 200 and 400 medley relays (Choi, David, Hamilton, Jin)

CANADIAN AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

- medalists included Alex Hamilton (2nd in the 1500 free, 200 fly, open water 5K, 3rd in the 800 free)

- finalists (top 10 and racing at night) included Alex Mierzynski (4th in100 free, 5th in the 400, 6th in the 800 free and 8th in the 200 im), Razvan David 7th in the 200 breast, Youn-Ho Choi 9th in the 200 fly, Nathaniel Hu 8th in the 200 fly, Alex Hamilton (5th in the 100 fly, 6th in the 400 im, 8th in the 400 free and 9th in the 200 IM)

- Alex Jin also recorded a new NYAC record for boys 11-12 in the 50 fly (32.01)