Ranked first in Canada in four events, Danica Ludlow is a marked swimmer this week at the age group national championships in Montreal.
The 14-year-old Prince George Barracudas Swim Club member is in a class of her own as a freestyler, ranked first in the 100-metre, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events and fourth-ranked in the 1,500m event.
That could put heaps of pressure on the Australian-born Ludlow, but she's taking it all in stride.
"I'm just going to go in there and have some fun and see, whatever happens happens," said Ludlow, following her final pre-meet practice at the Prince George Aquatic Centre.
"I've worked hard this whole season so hopefully I'll come out with some firsts and some PBs. It's my third nationals and I'm just looking forward to the meet environment. It's always such a fast meet with some amazing competition."
Ludlow also ranks 14th in the 100m backstroke, and 18th and 20th respectively in the 400 and 200 individual medley events.
"I was ranked first for short course in my 400 IM so hopefully I might bring it back and come first in the long course," she said. "That's one of my goals. I put so much hard work and a lot of hours into this. I don't get to hang out with a lot of friends on weekends but it's nice to see my hard work is paying off in not only freestyle, my best event, but in all the other events."
Ludlow has clocked one other national-best time this season, teaming up with Barracudas swimmers Jessa Wing, Bailey Hardy and Haley Black in the 14-year-old girls 4 X 50 medley relay.
They achieved their No. 1 ranking a few weeks ago at the triple-A provincial meet in Victoria. For the second straight year, the Barracudas finished second overall in the team standings at that meet.
Those four medley team members are among a group of 10 Barracudas competing this week in Montreal. Also at the age group meet are Sterling King, Harrison Lagzsdin. Josiah Binnema, Sava Yungman, Katie Mann and Grace Ni.
Ludlow, who turns 15 in August, spent the first 10 years of her life in Sydney, Australia, swimming in outdoor pools, so she won't be out of her element at this week's outdoor meet. She and King will be part of Team B.C. at the Western Canada Games in Kamloops, Aug. 11-14.
Black has six top-10 national times this season (second in 400IM, second in 100 and 200 butterfly, fifth in 100 back, seventh in 200 back and 50 fly), as does King (third in 400 free, fifth in 200 and 800 free, seventh in 1,500 free, eighth in 100 free, and ninth in 100 and 200 fly). Yungman's time for the 200 fly ranks 10th in the nation; Mann has top-nine marks in the 200 breaststroke and 400 IM; and Hannah Esopenko (who won't be competing this week in Montreal) is sixth among 10-and-under girls in the 100 breast and 10th in the 200 breast.
"We are very competitive in the province and in Canada, and that's what we want to see," said Barracudas head coach Jerzy Partyka, who runs club practices with assistant coach Jason Smith.
Black began an extended road trip this week. From Montreal, she and Partyka will travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for the North American Challenge Cup, Aug. 4 to 6.
