Results impressive from BC contingent at the 2nd FINA World Youth Champs
The last two days of competition at the 2nd FINA World Junior Swimming Championships (being held in Monterrey, Mexico) brought more impressive results from the BC contingent of the Swimming Canada National competition team.
Alexandra Gabor of the Whitehorse Glacier Bears navigated her way through a very tight field in the womens 200m Free prelims, securing a spot in finals in eighth place by posting a time of 2:03.29. Gabor further improved upon the time performed in prelims during finals placing sixth place overall with a time of 2:02.49. Alex Gabor was the anchor on Team Canada’s 4 x 100 Free Relay which earned a bronze medal, along with teammates Hannah Riordan, Hillary Bell and Paige Schultz. Gabor split 56.80, which is faster than the current 15-17 BC Record.
Michael Cai of the HYACK swim team in Newminster enjoyed a best time performance in the mens 50m Breast prelims on Sunday, touching the wall in 29.82 and placing 18th overall. Cai is fresh off his new BC Provincial Record in the 15-17 age category in the 100m Breaststroke. The mens relay for Team Canada finished sixth overall in the 4 x 100 Medley featuring Michael Cai who executed the breaststroke leg with a split of 1:03.06.
Chelsey Salli from the Langley Olympians qualified for the womens 200m Breast final after touching the wall in 7th place in prelims with a time of 2:31.97. Salli maintained that seventh place position in finals finishing in a final time of 2:32.58.
James McQuade of the West Vancouver Otters was just over his best time in the mens 200m Back prelims, touching the wall in 2:07.49 for 25th place.
The final combined team scores brought a fourth place finish for Canada after the team earned a total of 528.50 points. Taking first place was USA with 802.50 points, second to Japan with 616 points while third place was captured by Russia with 558 points.