WINDSOR, Ont. – Etobicoke Swim Club will retain the Speedo Eastern Canadian Championships banner after placing first in the overall standings as the 88-club event concluded on Sunday.
Etobicoke, which fielded a 27-member team, totalled 1,771 points. Elite, from Longueuil, Que., was second with 1,590.50 and Montreal’s Pointe-Claire Swim Club was third at 1,277.
“It’s awesome to be able to do two years in a row,’’ said Etobicoke coach Nial Kaddache. ‘’We’re really proud of the kids, they’ve worked really hard this year to repeat and looking forward to (Bell Canadian Swimming Trials in Toronto March 28-April 2) and what’s to come for the rest of the season.’’
Elite was first in the men’s standings followed by Hyack Swim Club from New Westminster, B.C., and Etobicoke. The Etobicoke club topped the women’s standings followed by Pointe-Claire and Oakville Aquatic Club.
The event featured Canada’s top upcoming talent in the sport and featured numerous outstanding individual performances.
Hyack’s Laon Kim spearheaded his club to the men’s crown with three wins highlighted by a Canadian 13-14 age group record in the 200-m freestyle with a 1:53.32 clocking. Tokyo 2020 Olympian Cole Pratt’s mark had stood since 2017.
‘’I was trying to go for the record but also have some fun during the race,’’ said Kim, 14, also first in the 100-m freestyle and 100-m butterfly. ‘’The race itself, I think it was pretty good. Coming in, I thought that I could get the record because last year I was a 1:54.3 which was only 0.3 off the national record.’’
Etobicoke was led by Sylvia Statkevicius who collected four individual medals which included her 2:02.10 in the women’s 200 free which was the top swim of the meet in the 13-15 age group. She was also on Etobicoke’s three relay wins.
Moncef Balamane was a triple winner for Elite and produced the top swim in the men’s 17 and over with his 2:18.07 in the men’s 200-m breaststroke. His clubmate Zergio Quevedo reached the podium five times.
In Para swimming, Jaime Cosgriffe of London, Ont., was first in points aggregate and Jesse Canney of Fredericton did the same on the men’s side.