California dreamin’ has become a reality for Chemainus swimmer Kennadie Sheppard.
The Chemainus Elementary School student and member of the Ravensong Aquatic Club in Qualicum competed in the Far Western Short Course Championships in Santa Clara, California during early April. The meet involved top Canadian, U.S. and Mexican swimmers.
Sheppard, 10, made the finals, finishing 11th in the 50-metre freestyle and 12th in the 50-metre breaststroke.
She also recently competed in the VPSC Jessica Deglau Invitational at UBC, her first long course meet, and finished first in the 50m free and the 100m backstroke, with a second in the 100m free and ninth in the 100m breast.
At the previous B.C. Tier 1 Age Group Championships in Penticton, Sheppard finished first in the 50m free, third in the 200m back and the 100m free, fourth in the 200m back and the 100m breast, seventh in the 400m free and eighth in the 200m free.
On top of everything else, Sheppard has smashed six club records and is justifiably proud of that achievement.
She’s busy every weekend now except for one until the third week of August, with summer swimming underway for her as of May 1.