Dalhousie cruises to conference championships
The Dalhousie Tigers ruled the pool at the Atlantic University Sport swimming championships at Dalplex over the weekend.
The Dal women won their 22nd consecutive conference title while the Tigers' men captured their 24 in 25 years.
For the third consecutive year, Tigers’ Regan Crowell was named both the AUS female swimmer of the year and the female championship swimmer of the meet.
Memorial Sea-hawks’ Chris Weeks cleaned up in the men’s awards. Weeks was named the rookie and swimmer of the year while also winning the rookie and swimmer of the championship meet awards.
UNB Reds’ Emma Sinclair was selected as the rookie of the year and championship rookie of the meet.
Dalhousie’s Lance Cansdale was named the coach of the year in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
The Dalhousie men finished the three-day competition with 1,006 points, followed by Acadia (772.50), UNB (431), Memorial (416.50) and Mount Allison (293).
The Dal women topped the standings with 993 points, followed by Acadia (760), Memorial (436 points), UNB (384) and Mount Allison (382).
Crowell captured gold medals in the 100, 200, 800 and 1,500-metre freestyle events.
Weeks won the 50 and 100 freestyle and 50 and 100 butterfly finals.
Acadia’s Sophie Rooney swept the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke finals and also won the 50 butterfly, while teammate Ella Collins took gold in the 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke events, including an AUS record swim in the 200 breast.
Tigers’ Logan Sparkes medalled in four races, with gold in the 1,500 free, silver in the 400 free, and bronze in the 200 free and 50 back, while teammate Emilie Schofield won gold in the 400 IM and and 200 IM, silver in the 200 back and bronze in the 200 breast.
Dal’s Liam Ferguson won gold in the 50 back, silver in the 100 and 200 back and bronze in the 50 fly.
Acadia’s Gordon Shortt won a pair of gold (50 breast and 200 IM) and a silver in the 100 breast.
Dalhousie’s Noah Mascollgomes won gold in the 400 free and bronze in the 50 and 100 free.
UNB’S Blake Kingston won gold medals in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and a silver in the 50 breaststroke.
UNB’S Elodie Martin won gold in the 50 free and silver in the 100 free.
Acadia’s Sarah Bennett won the 100 fly, took silver in the 50 free and 50 fly and a bronze in the 100 free, while teammate Grace Earle won silver in the 50, 100 back and bronze in the 50 free and 200 back.
Dalhousie’s Kate Tuck captured silver in the 100 breast, 400 IM and 200 IM and bronze in the 50 breast.
Acadia’s Bo Stokesburyprice won silver in the 200 free and bronze in the 100 free and teammate Marcus Vaillancourt won silver in the 50 fly and bronze in the 100 fly.
Dal’s Will Myrer won silvers in the 100 and 200 fly, while teammates Yannick Morgan had silvers in the 400 IM and 1,500 free, Connor Maloney took silver in the 200 breast and bronze in the 50 breast and Ella Dobson took silver in the 800 free and bronze in the 400 IM.
Three Dal swimmers each won a pair of bronze, including Abbey Nichols (200 and 400 free), Jake Gysel (100 and 200 breast) and Morgan Sparkes (1,500 free and 400 IM).
The Tigers swept the men's relays with wins in the 4 x 100 free, 4 x 100 medley and a thrilling 4 x 200 victory by less than a tenth of second over Acadia.
In women's relays, Dalhousie won the 4 x 100 free and 4 x 200 free, while Acadia dominated the 4 x 100 medley relay.
U Sports qualified swimmers advance to the national championship March 7-9 in Montreal.