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Dolphins medal at Montana State Championships

Angie Abdou
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Emilie Harrup and Layla Rella with medals at their first Montana State Championships (photo by Angie Abdou)

Angie Abdou

On the weekend of February 18, 10 Elk Valley Dolphins travelled to Hardin, Montana to compete in the Montana State Championships. The team had a tremendously successful weekend. Eight swimmers made the finals, and the Dolphins came home with 14 top-3 finishes.

Coach Aidan Chudleigh was pleased with the showing and says the team will continue to compete in the Montana Championships. He especially likes the meet for its high energy and the enthusiasm Americans bring to their athletic competitions. The Hardin trip works as a good lead-in meet for the senior swimmers who will be competing in Alberta Provincials in March.

In the 10 & under division, the Dolphins took 2 swimmers: Layla Rella and Emilie Harrup. Rella earned top-3 finishes in the 50 back, 50 free, 100 fly, and 50 fly. Harrup was a last-minute qualifier making the 200 free cut-off time only a week before the meet at an in-house time trial. Coaches were delighted to see Harrup place 8th to earn a finalist medal in the 50 free.

In the 11 & over division, Kiera Hansen earned top-3 finishes in the 200 fly and 400 IM. Leah Soetaert placed top-3 in the 50 back, 50 free, 50 fly, and 100 back. Olivia Howse broke the top-3 in 50 back, 50 free, 200 free, and 100 back. Those results put all 3 of the Dolphins’ senior swimmers on the podium.

The other Dolphins’ finalists are Adam Hayden (200 breast), Josie Howse (200 free, 100 free, 100 back), and Jackson Radkie (50 back, 50 breast, 50 fly).

The Dolphins’ next meet will be the Alberta Provincial Championships in Calgary on the first week in March.