Canada West Championships: UBC Men And Women Repeat As Champions

The Canada West Championships wrapped up with day three finals bringing another set of championships for the UBC men and women.

Jacomie Strydom won the first event, the women’s 200m fly, putting up a 2:11.23. That win gave her the sweep of the butterfly events as she won the 50 and 100 fly on previous days of competition. Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson once again proved her versatility win a silver medal, touching in at 2:14.59 ahead of her teammate Erin Assman. Assman’s time of 2:17.17 granted her the bronze and a 1-2-3 UBC finish.

Coleman Allen, who finished second at last year’s CIS Championships in the 200m fly to UofT’s Zack Chetrat, earned himself another win tonight as he touched in at 1:55.61 in the 200m fly. That time for Allen topped the Canadian rankings in the event as no Canadian has been faster this season. The time points Allen in a good direction. Last season at the CIS Championships he swam a 1:55.28, so to be this fast this early in the season shows promise for some fast swimming come February.

The women’s 100m freestyle final went to Fionnuala Pierse in 55.06. That time for her was a personal best, bettering the 55.19 she swam at the CIS Championships in February. Finishing second was Amanda Reason of Calgary in 2:14.07 followed by Dino breaststroke Fiona Doyle in 56.28.

The UBC men cleaned up the men’s 100m freestyle final with a 1-2-3 podium sweep led by up-and-coming sprinter Yuri Kisil. Kisil rocketed to a 48.73 to win the event followed by Stefan Milosevic who touched in at 49.58. Luke Peddie came in fast as well throwing down a 49.94. The three leaders were the only ones under the 50 second barrier, pointing the UBC 4x100m freestyle relay in a very good direction.

Erin Stamp made her mark in the 200m IM taking down both Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson and Tianna Rissling. Stamp put up a 2:10.51 to win by a sizable amount as Seltenreich-Hodgson came home in 2:14.07 followed by Rissling in 2:15.11. Seltenreich-Hodgson earned her second silver of the night with that swim, adding to the 200m fly silver medal she earned just moments beforehand.

Bogdan Knezevic of Calgary dropped a big swim in the 200m IM, swimming a swift 2:01.90 to come away with the win. Jonathan Brown of UBC was second behind the Dino breaststroker, clocking in at 2:02.69 ahead of teammate Luke Reilly. Reilly was a 2:03.15 to finish third.

Heading into the 100m backstroke it was UBC’s Sarah McLean who took home the gold with a time of 1:01.47. McLean separated herself from the rest of the field was second place finisher Katherine Stamp, also from UBC, finished over a second behind her in 1:02.80. McKenzie Summers rounded out the top three with a 1:02.86.

Coming in hot for his second win of the evening was Coleman Allen in the men’s 100m backstroke final. It was all Allen as he trudged to the wall to take the gold in 52.94 ahead of Calgary’s Joe Byram. Byram finished second behind Allen in 54.12, leaving UBC’s Mitch Benkic with the bronze.

After Fiona Doyle stole the show on night one and night two in the breaststroke events, it seemed as though Tera Van Beilen had enough. Tonight she came out and posted a very quick 2:24.86 in what can arguably be described as her best event. Erin Stamp of UBC was also able to finish ahead of Doyle as she squeezed in for the silver not too far behind Van Beilen in 2:25.66. Doyle finished back in the third spot with a 2:27.50.

Nick Kostiuk gave the University of Alberta their first win of the evening as he took control of the men’s 200m breaststroke final, sporting a 2:14.58 to take home the win. Behind him was Dillon Perron of Manitoba who finished over a second back in 2:15.76. Perron spoiled a 1-2 finish for Alberta as Hunter Balch touched in behind him at 2:16.61 for third.

After a win in the 800m freestyle on night one and a win in the 200m freestyle on night two, Savannah King solidified the freestyle crown with a 4:08.17 performance in the 400 that earned her the gold. Maia Brundage of UBC finished second behind her in 4:16.53 with Stefanie Schmidt of Calgary on her tail. Schmidt was third in 4:20.98.

Much like on the women’s side, it was Keegan Zanatta who went into the 400m freestyle with wins in the 200 and 1500, however he had some stiff competition along the way. Tristan Cote, his biggest competitor at the meet in the distance freestyles, was no match tonight as Zanatta laid it all out to take the win in 3:46.82. That time was just over a second slower than what he swam at last year’s CIS Championships to win the event. Cote wasn’t able to keep up with Zanatta in this race, and finished second in 3:51.81 with UBC’s Jonathan Brown taking the bronze in 3:55.82.

With all the individual events completed, the 4x100m medley relays pursued and the UBC team earned two final wins on their way to taking home both the men’s and women’s titles.

In the women’s relay the UBC team of Erin Stamp, Tera Van Beilen, Jacomie Strydom, and Fionnuala Pierse put together a 4:01.54 to win the race. Second to them was the Calgary team of Stefanie Schmidt, Fiona Doyle, Rachael Grothe, and Amanda Reason who swam a 4:09.29 to take silver.

The men’s powerhouse team of Mitch Benkic, Sergey Holson, Coleman Allen, and Yuri Kisil dropped a 3:37.31 to win over Alberta. Alberta stepped up to the plate with a team of Joe Byram, Nick Kostiuk, Josh Binnema and Hunter Balch to finish second and beat out the Calgary team with a time of 3:40.87. Calgary was third in 3:44.42.

MEN’S SCORES

1. UBC 1007
2. Alberta 647
3. Calgary 643
4. Lethbridge 258
5. Victoria 246
6. Manitoba 192
7. Regina 50

WOMEN’S SCORES

1. UBC 1059
2. Calgary 640
3. Alberta 517
4. Victoria 297
5. Lethbridge 233
6. Manitoba 196
7. Regina 67
8. Thompson River 14