By Brian Palaschuk, Swimming World College Intern
The 2018 RBC Canadian Junior Swimming Championships kicked off today in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
It was a fast first night of finals where swimmers contested the 800 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 200 backstroke and mixed medley relay. National Junior team members Josh Liendo, Emma O’Croinen, and Sebastian Somerset started off their meets with big victories tonight, and we also saw many new faces on top the podium.
Women’s 800 Free
Thirteen-year-old Katrina Bellio opened day one of finals with a victory in the girl’s 13-14 800 freestyle. Her time of 8:55.1 was almost 20 seconds ahead of second place finisher Gabrielle Dunn.
The 15-17 age group was topped by Junior Pan Pac team member Emma O’Croinen in 8:45.49. Second place finisher Brooke Switzer also snuck under the 9 minute mark in 8:59.85.
Notably, 13-year-old Bellio’s time held up for second overall in the meet.
Men’s 800 Free
World Junior open water team member Alexander Axon handily won the 14-15 boys 800 freestyle in 8:21, the third fastest time overall.
Axon was followed by Eric Brown and Ian Friesen.
Axon’s open water teammate Raben Domman of Chena had a great swim, lopping 3 seconds off his best time to take the 16-18 800 freestyle in 8:13.17
Junior Pan Pac team member Alexander Katelnikoff had a strong swim for second and Camo’s David Felix slashed 12 seconds off his previous best for the bronze.
Women’s 100 Fly
It was a great race for gold in the 13-14 girls 100 fly between Grand Prairie’s Catherine Minic and Carelton Place’s Breckin Gormley.
It was Minic who got her hand on the wall first however, finishing in 1:02.70 to Gormley’s 1:02.99.
Local swimmer Sarah Watson won another close race in the 15-17 100 fly, finishing in 1:00.72.
She was followed by Caroline Caruthers and Hannah Henderson.
Men’s 100 Fly
It was all Liendo in the 14-15 boys 100 fly. The Youth Olympic team member broke 54 for the first time, winning in a scorching 53.97. Of note, 15-year-old Liendo was only .11 off of Pan Pac team member Josiah Binnema’s 15-17 Canadian Record, 53.86. Liendo will have two more shots at that record at the Junior Pan Pacs and the Youth Olympic Games.
Calgary’s Cole Pratt and Victoria’s Keir Ogilvie rounded out the top three.
The 16-18 age group was won by Mexican national Guillermo Cruz in 55.32.
Women’s 200 Back
Ottawa’s Regan Rathwell topped the girls 13-14 200 back with her 2:17.4, and Calgary’s Ella Varga closed hard for second in 2:18.2.
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Shannon Meadway won the 15-17 competition in 2:15.17.
Men’s 200 Back
15-year-old Matthew Cyr went out like a rocket, flipping in 1:00.7 in the 14-15 boys 200 back. He paid for it on the last 50, as it was Langley’s Hugh McNeill who took the win, closing in a swift 1:03.26. Cyr’s efforts did however award him a silver medal and a near 5 second best time with his 2:05.77
In the 16-18 race, Calgary’s Sebastian Somerset had a nice even split to reel in the field winning in 2:03.09.
Richie Stokes held on for second in 2:04.88
Mixed Medley Relay
It was a great race for gold between University of Calgary Swim Club and Etobicoke Swimming in the mixed medley relay. Ultimately, it would be Etobicoke getting to the wall first in 3:39.83. ESWIM really pulled away when Justin Konik hit the pool, throwing down the fastest split of the field with a 51.09.
Edmonton Keyano touched third for bronze.
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Stay tuned for more excitement at the 2018 Canadian Junior Swimming Championships here.
Congratulations