This weekend swimmers from across the AUS will hit the water in Dalplex pool to compete in the 2012 Subway AUS Swimming Championship.
Competing in this year’s championship meet will be student-athletes from Acadia University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Mount Allison University, University of New Brunswick, University of Prince Edward Island and the host, Dalhousie. While an AUS medal is on the line in all events, swimmers will also be competing to make the CIS standard and earn the opportunity to represent their school at the 2012 CIS Championships later this month.
Read also: Swimming rookies set for Subway AUS Championships
With 38 events in the pool over the weekend it will be easy to get caught up in the action, but watch for these races to be especially exciting as these Tigers athletes will be swimming extra hard to meet their goals.
Women’s breaststroke (50m and 100m)
Earlier this year Tigers swimmer Paige Crowell set new Dal records in the 50m (22.8) and 100m (1:11) breaststroke events. While she has already qualified for the CIS championship in both of these events, she will be up against tough competition in the pool versus the AUS defending champion Danielle Losier from UNB who took the title in both of these races at the 2011 Subway AUS Championship.
Women’s backstroke (100m and 200m)
Emmalina Corriveau is the current Dal and AUS record holder of the 200m backstroke (2.46.01) and is expected to take the AUS title this year. The 2011 AUS 100m backstroke champion was Leah Tomblin of Memorial and the 200m backstroke winner was Dalhousie graduate Terri Lynn Benison. Corriveau took third place in both the 100m and 200m backstroke events in 2011 and she will be looking to top Tomblin of the Sea-Hawks for the gold medal in both races at this year’s championship.
Women’s freestyle (400m)
The women’s 400m freestyle event this year has been incredibly exciting for Dal fans as four Tigers have already bested the CIS standard and qualified for the championships. Tigers Alison Grant, Emily Wood, Kate Webster and Meagan Bernier, the 2011 defending champion, will all compete for the top of the podium in this event.
Men’s backstroke (50m, 100m and 200m)
The Tigers roster boasts four of the best backstrokers in the AUS this season including Bryan Fumerton, David Sharpe, Dmitry Shulga, and Kit Moran. Moran is the defending champion in the 50m backstroke while Shulga took the 2011 100m and 200m backstroke titles. Sharpe is the current AUS record holder in all backstroke events and was the 2011 CIS champion in the 50m back stroke.
Men’s freestyle (1500m)
One of the most exciting men’s races this year is the longest event - the 1500m freestyle. Tigers Chris Reith and Kyle Watson, have been consistently battling each other this season. Watson is the current AUS record holder, having bested Reith by less than a second last fall. Both have already qualified for the CIS championship and fourth-year teammate Brad Piggott will be looking to join them. Piggott has qualified the past three years and will have to complete the race in less than 16:14.28 in order to attend the CIS championship this year.
For more information on the 2012 Subway AUS Swimming Championship, including the event schedule, please visit the event webpage. If you are not able to make it to Dalplex this weekend you can watch the webcast or keep an eye on the live stats online.