The last time he engaged his racing instincts, Josiah Binnema broke two Prince George Barracudas Swim Club records and made the qualifying standard for the age group national swimming championships
Having never before qualified for the national meet in his 5 1/2-year racing career, Binnema says he has his mom to thank for helping him make the list for the big season-ending meet, July 21-26 in Winnipeg.
"I owe it all to my mom because she bought me a fast suit," smiled Binnema.
"She got me the (Speedo) Fastskin Pro suit for $200 and that gave me the extra .01 of a second I needed to break the record."
Made to reduce drag in the water, Binnema's swim trunks are a step down from the suit Michael Phelps used to dominate the Olympic medal podium in 2008, but they're still plenty fast. He broke Sterling King's Barracudas record for 11- and 12-year-old boys in the 100m backstroke, clocking 1:12.82.
"The air clings to it and you can feel it when you're in the water," he said.
"Soon as I got the suit, all of a sudden I break three club marks and get an age group national time. It worked for me."
Binnema has long showed his potential to achieve age group times. He said all it took to make that national standard in the 200m backstroke two weeks ago at the Kamloops Invitational meet was a tip on self motivation offered by Barracudas head coach Jerzy Partyka.
"Jerzy told me just to focus and not talk before my race and it really helped," Binnema said. "We always warm up our arms and legs before a race but you don't really concentrate your mind and I did that."
See Friday's Citizen for more
