VICTORIA – Vancouver’s UBC Dolphins broke their Canadian club record in the men’s 4×100 medley relay on Saturday to cap the pool portion of 2010 Summer Nationals swimming competition at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
The Dolphins – including Brian Johns, Scott Dickens, Rory Biskupski and Brent Hayden – clocked three minutes 40.08 seconds in the final to eclipse their previous mark of 3:40.84 set last year. Dickens, Johns and Hayden were also members of the 2009 record-setting foursome.
It marked the second Canadian club relay record at the event, which also served as the second of two trials to finalize Canadian team selections for the Pan Pacific Championships being held Aug. 18-22 in Irving, Calif. On Friday, Montreal’s Club de Natation des Piscines du Parc Olympique lowered the mark in the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay.
The victory capped a great week for Hayden, who collected a third individual gold with a win in the 50 freestyle. He clocked 22.73 seconds with Luke Peddie of Edmonton second in 23.18.
With his performance, Peddie gains a berth on the Pan Pac team.
“I feel pretty happy,” said Peddie. “I came in and posted a great time against some very fast guys. It’s going to be a really good experience to race some more fast competitors at the Pan Pacs.”
Victoria Poon of Montreal collected her third gold as well with a victory in the 50 freestyle in 25.69. Hannah Riordan of Montreal, who secured a berth on the Pan Pacific team with a solid showing this week, was second in 25.77 and Seanna Mitchell of Calgary third in 25.88.
Other winners in women’s competition were world record holder Annamay Pierse of Vancouver in the 200 breaststroke, Erica Morningstar of Calgary in the 200IM and Zsofi Balazs of Toronto in the 1,500 freestyle.
Morningstar fell behind early in her race but was able to reel in Canadian record holder Julia Wilkinson of Victoria for the gold.
“I’m pretty happy with that,” said Morningstar. “After the prelims I wasn’t too sure how my final would go, but I was coming off a couple of solid weeks of training, and Julia and I really push each other in this event.”
Meanwhile, Warren Barnes of Toronto completed his unexpected breaststroke sweep, winning Saturday’s 200-metre in 2:15.12. Dickens was second in 2:15.21 and Richard Funk of Edmonton third. Barnes also prevailed in the 50 and 100 breaststrokes here.
Other winners in men’s competition were Ryan Cochrane of Victoria in the 800 freestyle and Johns in the 200 IM. Tobias Oriwol of Toronto was second to Johns in the 200 IM and made his second event for the Pan Pacs.
Competition ends Sunday with the open water races.
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