Day 1: 2010 Canada West Swimming Championships

by Eoin Colquhoun, U of Lethbridge Sports Information

Archive photo courtesy Adelio Trinidad: Breanna Hendriks and the Calgary Dinos have the lead after Day 1 of women's action at the 2010 Canada West swimming championships

LETHBRIDGE, AB - The Canada West swimming Championships at the Max Bell Aquatic Centre in Lethbridge Alberta kicked off with both expected and unexpected results. The Calgary Dinos women served notice that they have no plans to relinquish the title they have won the past two years, while the men's side looks wide open.

2010 CWUAA Swimming Live Results

Day 1 of the championship meet featured only four events that count towards the team standings and medal counts, with the women's 800 meter freesytle, men's 1500 free and both genders 800 meter free relay awarding medals and registering points.

On the women's side, the Dinos claimed three medals in the two events opening the meet, with the top two places in the 800 meter free; Breanna Hendriks claimed gold, finishing more than four seconds ahead of teammate Julianne Brown.

Team Standings

Women
1. Calgary 88 points
2. Alberta 78
3. UBC 68
4. Victoria 47
5. Lethbridge 32
6. Manitoba 26
7. Regina 0

Men
1. Alberta 90
2. UBC 51
3. Manitoba 49
4. Victoria 43
5. Calgary 28
6. Lethbridge 0
6. Regina 0

The Dinos women further flexed their muscles, winning the relay by nearly 14 seconds, with a team featuring 2009 CIS Rookie of the Year Erica Morningstar, Kevyn Peterson, Brown and Hendriks. Alberta finished second, with the Thunderbirds claiming the Bronze.

U of C women (88 points) will enter day two with a 10 point lead over the Alberta Pandas (78). UBC sits thirds with 68 points and Vicotria in fourth with 47.

The men's side went far from smooth for the defending champion Calgary Dinos, after being shutout in the opening event - the 1500 free - the Dinos won the relay, but were disqualified, as were two other schools in the Victoria Vikes and host Lethbridge Pronghorns. The Alberta Golden Bears moved up to claim the gold, with UBC and Manitoba also moving up a place to grab the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Victoria's Craig Dagnall claimed the top spot in the men's 1500 free, Bison Riley Pickerl finished with the silver and Alberta's Brian Yakiwchuk finished third.

University of Alberta Golden Bears leads the men's standings with 90 points, with the UBC Thunderbirds in second with 51 points and the surprising Manitoba Bisons in third with 49 first day points. Defending champion Calgary Dinos are a distant fifth with 28 points.

While the short pool races don't count towards the team totals, the Thunderbirds and Dinos dominated the action with one of the other winning each of the 6 races, winning three each and placing in the top three 14 of 18 spots.

The Canada West championships recommence Saturday with heats at 10:00 a.m. MT and finals starting at 5:00 p.m. at the Max Bell Aquatic Centre.