Canadians Enjoy Another Strong Day at Victoria Age Group Championships

MELBOURNE, Australia, January 11. ZSOFIA Balazs of Toronto highlighted another productive day for Canada’s National Junior and Youth Team on Tuesday with her second consecutive double-medal performance at the Victoria State Age Group Swimming Championships. The Canadians compiled eight gold, seven silver and three bronze after exploding for 20 medals to open the competition on Monday.

Balazs earned her third gold medal of the competition with a victory in the 200-meter butterfly in the 15-year-old age group and added silver in 400 individual medley, finishing ahead of teammate Gabrielle Soucisse of Beaconsfield, Que., who took the bronze.

Canada also posted 1-2 finishes in three men’s races: in the junior 200 backstroke, Jake Tapp of Langley, B.C. was first and Bruno Langlois of Quebec City second; in the 200 freestyle for 16-year-olds, Jonathan Blouin of Quebec City and Greg Gerum of Hamilton, Ont., were first and second respectively; and in the junior 200 freestyle, Joel Greenshields and Pascal Wollach, both of Calgary, were 1-2.

In the women’s 200 backstroke for 16-year-olds, Jessika Craig of Kingston, Ont. took the gold with Nathalie Gallant of Toronto in third. As for the women’s 200 freestyle for 16-year-olds, Stephanie Horner of Beaconsfield, Que., was first with Laura Murray of St. John’s Nfld. in third. Two other Canadian women earned wins: Chelsey Salli of Langley in the 100 breaststroke for 14-year-olds and Anne Schmuck of Victoria in the junior 200 backstroke.

Canada earned two silver medals in the 100 breaststroke for 15-year-olds with Helen Pitchik for the women and Curtis Lutsch of Calgary for the men. Emily Wong of Ottawa was also second in the women’s junior 200 freestyle. Other finalists were for the women were: Amy Harriman of Hamilton was fourth in the 200 butterfly for 15-year-olds; Sarah Mayzes of Victoria was fifth in the junior 200 freestyle; Kayla Rawlings of Langley took seventh in the junior 200 backstroke.

For the men, Evan Buck of Guelph, Ont., was fourth in the 1,500 freestyle for 15-year-olds; Lutsch was fifth in the 200 butterfly for 15-year-olds and Gerum fifth in the 200 backstroke for 16-year-olds. Personal best times were set by Tapp, Wollach, Blouin, Gerum, Craig, Lutsch, Schmuck and Wong.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use