January 26, 2008

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Day One Canada West swimming championship re-cap

EDMONTON - The top three hopes of the University of Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas swim programs were buoyed by some expected and unexpected results after the first day of competition at the Canada West championship at the Kinsmen Sports Centre in Edmonton.

Alberta, ranked #5 in the CIS on the men's side and #6 on the women's side, finished the day as the overall leader thanks to some big finishes in the 800m and 1500m races.

"We've got great depth in the 800m and the 1500m," said Alberta head coach Bill Humby. "We scored big points in those events today and that's why we're sitting first overall right now."

The Golden Bears lead with 91 points, while the Calgary Dinos, who won the Canada West men's title last season, hold second at 87 points and the UBC Thunderbirds, 10 time consecutive CIS champions, occupy third with 71 points. Victoria, Manitoba and Lethbridge round out the final three spots.

An 85 point day puts the Pandas on top on the women's side, while UBC, also 10 time consecutive CIS champions, sit in second with 82 points. The Dinos hold third with 72 points, while Victoria, Manitoba and Lethbridge complete the table.

The Calgary Dino women's team started the night strong out of the gate, grabbing two out of the first three medals available as Kevyn Petersen and Breanna Hendriks finished second and third respectively in the 800m FS, trailing Tara Ivanitz from UBC.

The short pool races were dominated by UBC and Calgary as the schools combined for 14 of the 18 medals up for grabs in the six races. The Dinos swam away with eight medals, while UBC scored three gold, two bronze and one silver in the six 50m events.

Annamay Pierse, a former Panda, took home the 50m breast-stroke for UBC, an event where she holds the record with a 2007 time. The Thunderbirds took two medals in the event as Haylee Johnson finished with bronze behind Dino Elizabeth Hendrik. T-Bird Callum Ng, who holds the Conference record in the 50m back-stroke, showed why, as he claimed the event a full two seconds ahead of the competition from Calgary. The Dinos placed two swimmers on the podium behind Ng and five of the top six finishers in the race.

UBC, Calgary and Alberta finished in that order in the women's 4x200m relay, while the Dinos took top spot in the men's 4x200m relay with UBC swimming into second and Alberta again taking a bronze.

"The Bears were solid tonight in the 4x200m, we expected a bronze," noted Humby. "On the women's side, we're battling Victoria for third. They killed us last year, but last year we didn't win a medal and already after one day we've got one, so that's encouraging. As a matter of fact, we were faster here tonight in the 4x200 women's relay than we were at last season's CIS championship, so the Pandas are feeling confident about where they are right now."

One of the unexpected results for Alberta came from Mandy Bell (800m FS) as she swam into fourth position after taking a year off from the program. Bell also grabbed a medal in the relay as she anchored the bronze medal winning Panda side.

"Mandy's finish is very significant because she took a year off last season," noted Humby. "To see her come back and race against National level athletes and finish as well as she did, is exciting and important to the program."

Alberta rookie Brian Yakiwchuk also provided the team and Humby with a pleasant surprise, snagging a bronze medal in the men's 1500m free-style.

"What a great race by Brian tonight," said Humby. "He finished very strong in the 1500m, getting his first medal at Canada West and in CIS swimming and a personal best."

Source:

Matt Gutsch
University of Alberta Athleti