The Hyack Swim Club came just a couple of races short of repeating as the B.C. provincial short course champions earlier this month in Victoria.

Hyack, which is based out of Coquitlam and New Westminster, was leading into the fourth and final day before Chena Swim Club pulled away in one of the closest team title races.

A miniscule three-point lead would evaporate over the last handful of races, as Hyacks' 30 swimmers had mostly completed their events, and the North Vancouver-based rival still had a number of its 55 swimmers in the water.

Fifty-five was also the margin that separated the two clubs once all the swimmers were out of the pool.

Finishing second was a disappointment but there was nothing disappointing in the efforts displayed by the Hyack swimmers, Hyack head coach Mark Bottrill said.

"We've been hitting at the top of the ranking for the past three years and been in the top-three mix each time," said Bottrill. "Everybody stood up and contributed, from the first year guys right out of summer swimming to the veterans who've been here before."

Powered by 12-year-old Ethan Laing of New Westminster, the Hyack club exited the meet with a multitude of highlights. Laing won seven gold medals - including four individual events.

He won the 200-and 400-metre individual medley and 100-and 200m breaststroke, while also helping win three relay events.

"He's got body of a swimmer, he enjoys the sport and is a tremendous racer. (Laing) knows how to push himself in a race," said Bottrill.

Among Tri-Cities swimmers, Chris Baker established a pair of club records along with some hardware. The 14-year-old topped the 100m butterfly and finished second in the 200m event - setting new Hyack marks in the process.

"We've been around for 40-odd years, so setting a new record is pretty impressive," remarked Bottrill. "He was in a pile of finals and he's always been a strong swimmer for us."

Baker also took bronze in 200m IM, silver in 200m medley and bronze in both the 200-and 400m freestyle relays.

For Sara Whelan, gold was the colour in the 15-year-old 200m free event, joining a silver she picked up in the 100m breast.

Scoring a gold in the girls 200m fly was 15-year-old Mia Bottrill, while Hattie Sun, 12, collected a pair of second-place results in the 100m fly and backstroke events, and a bronze in the 200m IM. She also won bronze in the 200m medley relay.

Twin silvers was also the result for 14-year-old Jasmine Whelan, in 100 and 200m breast.

Here are more Tri-Cities athletes' results: BOYS - Jeremy Au (14) 2 nd 200 medley, 3 rd 200, 400 fr relay; Chris

Baker (14) 1 st 100 fly, 2 nd 200 fly, 3 rd 200 IM, 2 nd 200 medley, 3 rd 200, 400 fr

relay; Cristian Cristurean (16) 6 th 400 fr, 3 rd fr relay; Victor Krawus (14) 2 nd 200 medley, 3 rd 200, 400 fr relay; Chun Sing Leung (14) 2 nd medley, 3 rd 200, 400 fr relay; Connor Toomey (14) 14 th 200 fly, 15 th 1500 fr.

GIRLS - Mia Bottrill (15) 1 st 200 fly, 4 th 100 fly; May Li (15) 7 th 100 back; Jaime Lavoie (10) 6 th 200 fly; Hannah O'Connor (12) 11 th 200 breast, 14 th 100 breast; Simrin Purhar (16) 17 th 100, 200 breast; Hattie Sun (12) 2 nd 100 back, fly, 3 rd 200 IM, 200 fr relay; Jasmine Whelan (14) 2 nd 100, 200 breast; Sara Whelan (15) 1 st 200 free, 2 nd 100 breast, 4 th 400 IM, 800 free.