TORONTO – The 2023 Speedo Canadian Swimming Championships rolled into day 3 with many more record-breaking performances and some first-time titlists.
Day 3 built off the record-breaking performances of day 2 with three swimmers breaking their own national records. Tyson Jacob from Les Loutres went out hard in the 100 freestyle para multiclass with a goal in mind, to lower his own 50 metre freestyle S5 national record. “I was really proud of myself,” said Jacob. “It’s been like three years that I’ve been trying to beat this record and trying to get under 40 seconds”. Jacob turned in 39.71 at the 50 metre mark.
Alison Gobeil of Club Juvaqua d’Alma lowered her own 100 freestyle S5 national record with a time of 1:32.41. Gobeil first eclipsed her previous record of 1:34.06 in the morning prelims but returned Thursday night to lower that morning time even further to 1:32.41.
Reid Maxwell from the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club broke his own 100 metre freestyle S9 national record with a 1:00.78. “Better than this morning,” said Maxwell when asked how the 100 free final had felt. “This morning hurt a lot. Tonight felt much smoother, a lot cleaner”. While breaking his record was nice, Maxwell prefers chasing other swimmers’ records. “It’s more fun to break another person’s record, but you still feel good and you’re still dropping time”.
Over in the men’s 100 freestyle 19 and over age group final, Senior National Team member Patrick Hussey of the Pointe-Clarie Swim Club returned from the World Championships last week in form to claim the title in 50.09. Hussey was part of the 4 x 200 freestyle relay that placed 12th at the Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
In the women’s 100 freestyle 13-14 age group final, Ziyun Liu from the Canadian Dolphins Swim Club won her second national title of the meet. “It felt great,” said Liu. “I tried to go out faster than I usually do and I was able to come back”. Liu touched the wall in a personal best time of 58.24. Moments after, Liu was already eyeing her next title. “Definitely the 200 IM,” she added when asked which other title she would like to add to her collection.
Switching over to the men’s 200 metre backstroke 19 and over final, Raben Dommann from the High Performance Centre – Vancouver touched first in a personal best 1:58.64
Heading into the final events of the night, some swimmers were focused on their first-ever national title. Olivier Risk of ROC Swimming upgraded his 1500 freestyle 16-18 age group bronze medal from last year’s championships to a gold medal with a personal best performance of 15:41.94. Risk had swum a 15:48.18 earlier this year at the 2023 Bell Canadian Trials in April. “I’d say for that race I was definitely a lot more nervous because I was looking to maybe make a junior national team,” said Risk. “Here there weren’t very many expectations on me so I just went out for a good time”.
Below is a complete list of national champions from Day 3.
DAY 3 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS – AUGUST 3rd
Women
100 freestyle (Para multiclass): Sophie Wood, Pacific Coast Swimming, 1:07.15
100 freestyle (13-14): Ziyun Liu, Canadian Dolphins Swim Club, 58.24
100 freestyle (15-17): Jenna Walters, Guelph Marlin Aquatic Club, 55.95
100 freestyle (18+): Sarah Fournier, C. N. Région de Québec, 54.58
200 backstroke (13-14): Madison Kryger, Brock Niagara Aquatics, 2:13.85
200 backstroke (15-17): Katelyn Schroeder, Langley Olympians Swim Club and Delia Lloyd, Etobicoke Swim Club, 2:12.24
200 backstroke (18+): Bridget Burton, Island Swimming Club, 2:13.22
Men
100 freestyle (Para multiclass): Fernando Lu, Langley Olympians Swim Club, 57.57
100 freestyle (14-15): Laon Kim, University of Calgary Swim Club, 50.39
100 freestyle (16-18): Antoine Sauve, Club Aquatique de Montreal, 50.26
100 freestyle (19+): Patrick Hussey, Pointe-Clarie Swim Club, 50.09
200 backstroke (14-15): Parker Deshayes Cascade Swim Club, 2:05:00
200 backstroke (16-18): Aiden Norman, University of Calgary Swim Club, 2:03.27
200 backstroke (19+): Raben Dommann, High Performance Centre Vancouver, 1:58.64
1500 freestyle (14-5): Zachary McLeod, Winskill Dolphins Swim Club, 16:04.41
1500 freestyle (16-18): Olivier Risk, ROC Swimming 15:41.94
1500 freestyle (19+): Alexander Axon, Markham Aquatic Club, 15:31.58
Relays
4 x 100 Mixed Freestyle Relay (13-15): University of Calgary Swim Club 1, 3:43.65
4 x 100 Mixed Freestyle Relay (16+): University of Calgary Swim Club 3, 3:35.01