TORONTO – The 2024 Speedo Canadian Swimming Championships continued into day two at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre and showcased the strength and depth of this year’s Paralympic team.
Two-time Paralympian Abi Tripp from Club de Natation Région de Québec is in full training mode as her third Paralympic games quickly approach. “We’re in a good training block now,” said Tripp.
“The goal is to race while tired and figure out what still needs to be worked on so we can tune it up for Paris.”
Tripp will use her previous experience to support her rookie Paralympic teammates in preparation for the Games. “I remember like it was yesterday, going to Rio (2016) for my first time and being the new one,” added Tripp. “I think sharing that knowledge is really important so that they feel ready.”
Tripp came in second in the women’s 100-breaststroke multi-class on Thursday with Maxine Lavitt from the University of Manitoba Bisons claiming the national title.
Paralympian Aly Van Wyck-Smart from Whitby Swimming won her first national title of the championships with a 1:49.16 swim in the women’s 50-metre breaststroke multi-class. Van Wyck-Smart also brings experience to the Paris team as she represented Canada at the Tokyo Games held in 2021.
Two swimmers competing in the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships will have family support close by as sisters Mia, and Halle West represent Canada in Canberra, Australia.
“I’m so excited to represent my country again,” said (Mia) West. “It’s such an honour to be on the team with some of the best coaches and swimmers in the country,” added (Halle) West. “A lot of them were on the team last year with us so we have that bond.”
The West sisters also look to swim the same event, the women’s 200-metre freestyle, at the competition.
“It’s great. Mia and I are really close and she is my best friend,” added (Halle) West when asked how it felt to have her sister on the team with her. “We are always there for each other no matter what… it is really good to have someone like that on a team with me,” added (Mia) West.
Over on the men’s side, Jordi Vilchez of the Barrie Trojan Swim Club claimed his second national title of the competition by winning the 200-metre butterfly in the 16-18 category. Vilchez touched the wall in 2:00.01 and just 0.2 seconds ahead of Kevin Zhang from the UW Warriors.
Benjamin Loewen of CREST Swimming followed by defending his 19 and over title minutes later. Loewen edged out Raben Dommann of the High-Performance Centre – Vancouver with a personal best swim of 1:57.24.
Wrapping up the night was the University of Calgary Swim Club winning both women’s 4 x 100-metre freestyle relay age categories. UCSC took the 13-14 category title with a 3:59.92, while the 15-and-over women won in 3:47.32.
Below is a complete list of national champions from Day 2.
DAY 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS – JULY 25th
Women
50 breaststroke (Para multi-class): Aly Van Wyck-Smart, Whitby Swimming, 1:49.16
100 breaststroke (Para multi-class): Maxine Lavitt, University of Manitoba Bisons, 1:25.08
100 breaststroke (13-14): Alexandra Leno, Etobicoke Swim Club, 1:11.80
100 breaststroke (15-17): Madyson Hartway, Unattached Canada, 1:09.83
100 breaststroke (18+): Alexanne Lepage, University of Calgary Swim Club, 1:07.03
200 butterfly (13-14): Ella Harrison, CREST Swimming, 2:19.76
200 butterfly (15-17): Leilani Fack, Olympians Swimming, 2:15.20
200 butterfly (18+): Ashlyn Massey, Pointe-Claire Swim Club, 2:14.30
1500 freestyle (13-14): Elleigh Wise, Cascade Swim Club, 17:16.42
1500 freestyle (15-17): Peyton Leigh, Brock Niagara Aquatics, 16:54.65
1500 freestyle (18+): Tori Meklensek, Dorval Swim Club, 17:01.35
Men
50 breaststroke (Para multi-class): Etienne Boutin-Cote, Club de Natation Région de Québec, 1:20.85
100 breaststroke (Para multi-class): Charles Giammichele, Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club, 1:23.56
100 breaststroke (14-15): Benjamin Cescon, CREST Swimming, 1:05.18
100 breaststroke (16-18): Brodie Khajuria, Ajax Aquatic Club, 1:03.12
100 breaststroke (19+): Brayden Taivassalo, Markham Aquatic Club, 1:01.64
200 butterfly (14-15): Simon MacLure, Etobicoke Swimming, 2:06.94
200 butterfly (16-18): Jordi Vilchez, Barrie Trojan Swim Club, 2:00.01
200 butterfly (19+): Benjamin Loewe, CREST Swimming, 1:57.24
Relays
4 x 100 Women’s Freestyle Relay (13-14): University of Calgary Swim Club 4, 3:59.92
4 x 100 Women’s Freestyle Relay (15+): University of Calgary Swim Club 1, 3:47.32
4 x 100 Men’s Freestyle Relay (14-15): Pointe-Claire Swim Club 3, 3:39.90
4 x 100 Men’s Freestyle Relay (16+): Club Aquatique Montréal, 3:19.69