The target is one minute, 19.99 seconds.
If Bailey Hardy hits it in the 100-metre breaststroke, she'll qualify for the age group national long course championships in Montreal this summer.
In a Friday night heat race at the Aquatic Centre, Hardy wasn't far off the clocking she needs. Even though she was swimming in her first long course meet of the season -- the Prince George Barracuda Moose Meet -- she posted a first-place time of 1:20.41, which was two seconds faster than her previous best result in the discipline.
"I was happy," said the 14-year-old Hardy. "I really want to try to get my age group time."
If Hardy has a specialty in the pool, breaststroke is it. In the 200 breast, she's eyeing a possible berth in the senior nationals.
"That's my best race and I'd like to get closer to my senior national time," she said. "[The qualifying standard is] 2:42 and I have a 2:49 from last season. I can probably go a 2:45, around there. That's what I'm looking for this weekend."
Barracudas coach Jason Smith said Hardy has the mechanics of the breaststroke down pat.
"She has flexible hips and strong kicking -- that, and she really enjoys the breaststroke," he said.
Also Friday, Hardy placed third in the 200m individual medley. Her time in that race was 2:43.07.
Jessa Wing, another 14-year-old member of the Barracudas, had a strong night in the water as well. She finished second in the 200 IM (2:36.43) and third in the 100m breaststroke (1:24.42).
"My 100 breast, I took off four seconds, but that's from last year," Wing said. "My breaststroke has been getting better but it's not my best stroke."
Wing is known more for her abilities in the backstroke, and she'll get the chance to do that today.
"I want to re-qualify for [national] age groups and westerns in backstroke because I got that in short course and now I have to get it in long course," she said. "But it's kind of a big change -- this pool feels so long."
A short course pool is 25m, while a long course pool is 50m.
For some of the younger members of the Barracudas, Friday was their first-ever taste of competition. First-timers included Jackson Girard, Jenna Stevens and Taylor Blair and they all handled the challenge well.
"For those kids that are 10-and-under, it was nice to see that some of their skills are improving," Smith said. "They always have skills that they have to improve on, but I really enjoyed watching some of those younger ones."
The Moose Meet continues today and Sunday.
