Team Yukon swimmers are focusing on achieving personal best times rather than reaching the podium at the Western Canada Summer Games in Kamloops, B.C., this week.

But for Erin McArthur and Kirsten Berube, personal best times were good enough to reach the finals yesterday.

Thirteen-year-old McArthur reached the finals in the 200-metre breaststroke against swimmers as old as 17.

"Some people would say it's intimidating, but I just focus on my own race,”

McArthur said, adding of the expectations she set for herself: "It was just to get personal bests and try my hardest. I didn't think I would make it to the finals in that race.”

Team B.C.'s Kierra Smith won the event with a time of two minutes, 22.88 seconds.

McArthur swam to eighth place with a time of 2:52.45. She was even better in the preliminaries, clocking a time of 2:48.12.

"I was happy about the one in the morning. But the one at night, I was pretty tired for it. I tried my best, but it didn't come out in the best times.”

McArthur called her strongest event the 100-metre breaststroke – which she'll compete in Saturday.

She also achieved a personal best in the 100-metre backstroke with a time of 1:17.02, shaving 23/100 seconds off her seed time. In her other race, the 50 free, McArthur finished 15th with a time of 29.17 seconds.

"To have her stepping up as a rookie is really exciting,” Team Yukon coach Stephanie Dixon said. "And I think that shows the other girls what's possible, because sometimes a lot of them come here to participate thinking they can't really compete against the other, more competitive provinces. But to have our younger athletes really step it up like that I think sends a huge message to the other athletes. Without her even knowing it, she's taking on a huge role-model position.”

Berube finished the preliminary of the 400 IM (individual medley) with a time of 5:34.53, adding five seconds to her best time. She took off four seconds in the final with a time of 5:30.63.

"I was pretty excited about it afterwards knowing that my team is there behind me,” Berube said. "That's one of the biggest races, and you're at the Western Canada Summer Games.”

Added pressure?

"There is and there isn't. You're competing against girls that are going to nationals, but you just go in there and focus on your own race and hopefully get the results.”

Yesterday she competed in 100-m free, 100-m back and 50-m free today.

She failed to achieve best times in those three events, but she was within a second of a PB in each.

"For B.C. and Alberta, it's always good to try and go for medals. But most of the time when it comes to the Yukon we're just going for personal bests in the water at least,” Berube said.

She competes Saturday in the 100-m fly and the 200-m IM.

The three past events have taken a physical toll.

"I'm a little tired, but will just push through the rest, make them strong races,” Berube said.

Dixon called Berube's ability to bounce back inspiring.

"What always stands out with me with Kirsten is her attitude,” Dixon said. "She always digs deep.

Yesterday morning she was a little bit flatter than she would have liked to have been. And so, even though the 400 IM is difficult to swim twice, she got herself re-focused and re-motivated. She did a much better swim last night. I think her attitude really sets a tone for the team. …She's very inspiring.”

Of the entire Team Yukon swim team, Dixon added:

"Not only those girls, but the whole team did extremely well. Everyone was either best time or really close to their best time.

"We are a much smaller team than the rest of the teams. And coming from the Yukon, we have a lot less people, so we don't quite have as much depth as the provinces have, so it's really awesome just to see the Yukon name in the final.”