McIntyre and Wolk Notch Pair of Wins to Open 2006 Canadian Age Group Championships

CALGARY, Alberta, Canada, July 21. KARL Wolk of Edmonton and Ander McIntyre of Vernon, British Columbia each captured a pair of gold Thursday as the 2006 Canadian Age Group National Championships opened at the Talisman Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Wolk posted wins in the 200 IM and the 50 backstroke in the 14-year-old category. In the 50 backstroke, he established a 13-14 age group provincial record clocking 28.97 seconds.

‘’It’s fantastic to get the record,’’ Wolk said. ‘’I’ve been working hard on my start lately which is one of the key factors in this event and it paid off tonight. Off the start I surfaced at about the 10-metre marks which is very good considering you can only stay under until 15 metres.’’

McIntyre competed in the 13-year-old age group and posted wins in the 50 freestyle and 200 IM. Other age groups for the men are 15, 16 and 17-18 combined. For the women the age groups are 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16-18 combined. More than 1,000 swimmers are competing at this week’s event which continues until Sunday.

“The Age Group National Championship is new to our domestic competitive program” CEO/National Coach of Swimming Canada Pierre Lafontaine said. “These young athletes are our future Olympians and we are really excited to move in this direction in order to make it more competitive and exciting for them as they progress.”

A provincial and national age group record breaking challenge has also been put forth to all athletes competing this weekend.

“Our goal in 2012 is to have every provincial and national record broken,” Lafontaine said. “This meet is an excellent opportunity for our swimmers to get in the water, swim fast and add their names to the record books.”

Winners in the women’s 16-18 age category were Commonwealth Games team member Erica Morningstar of Calgary in the 50 freestyle, Rachelle Salli of Langley, B.C., in the 200 individual medley and Jillian Tyler of Calgary in the 50 backstroke.

In the men’s 17-18 category, Joel Greenshields of Calgary in the 50 freestyle, Jordan Hartney of Nanaimo, B.C., in the 200 IM and Zack Zeiler of Peterbough, Ont., in the 50 backstroke each claimed victory.

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