VICTORIA – Second-year University of Victoria Vikes swimmer Ryan Howe met the required CIS championship qualifying times in the 100-metre backstroke and 200-metre individual medley this weekend, Jan. 17, at the Simon Fraser University Dual hosted in Burnaby, B.C. The SFU Clan came away victorious in the head-to-head dual, defeating the Vikes men in points, 145-104, and the women 165-87 in the final standings.
 
SFU DUAL RESULTS   |   BC SENIOR CIRCUIT RESULTS   |   MEET ON DEMAND
 
A first place time of 55.95 in the 100-metre backstroke and a second-place finish of 2:04.53 in the 200-metre individual medley booked Howe a spot at the upcoming CIS national championship, which take place Feb. 26-28, 2016 in Quebec City, Que.
 
On the women's side, fourth-year Vike Sarah Galbraith finished first in three events, the 100-metre breaststroke, 200-metre IM and the 50-metre freestyle. Second year Kaitlin Gervais also raced a first-place time of 4:29.22 in the 400-metre freestyle.
 
The Vikes men took home gold thanks to the efforts of fourth year Aidan Thirkell in the 100 and 200-metre breaststroke with times of 1:04.11 and 2:22.22, respectively. Third year Evan Letkeman took home the best time in the 200-metre backstroke with 2:04.04.
 
The Clan outnumbered the Vikes in swimmers at the dual 15-8 on the women's side and 13-9 on the men's. Third-year Vikes standout Jon McKay missed action with his teammates this past weekend to race in the Arena Pro Swim Series in Austin, Tx., where he raced in the 200, 400, and 1500-metre freestyle as well as the 200-metre butterfly.
 
On Jan. 16, the Vikes also competed in the season's second B.C. Senior Circuit in Surrey, B.C., giving them extra practice in long course events in the build up to the CIS championship.. Gervais was among the top racers for the Vikes, finishing third in the 200-metre freestyle (2:08.80), while first year Cale Murdock was second in the 200-metre freestyle with a time of 1:55.49.
 
"The Senior Circuit in Surrey was a good opportunity for the team to race Long Course," said Vikes assistant coach Ryan Clouston. "As CIS finals and Olympic Trials are long course, this was valuable practice. It was also the first weekend of competition since training camp, so it was a good opportunity for the swimmers to test themselves and try to get closer to CIS standards."
 
The Vikes prepare themselves for another dual on Feb. 7, the Blue-Gold Dual, hosted at Saanich Commonwealth Place in Victoria. Westerns, hosted Feb. 18-21 in Winnipeg, will be the final chance for the Vikes to qualify and prepare for the CIS Championship hosted a week later.
 
SFU Dual Recap Final Scores:
 
Women:
SFU: 165 points
UVIC: 87 points
 
Men:
SFU: 145 points
UVIC: 104 points
 
SFU Dual – Vikes Results:
 
Men:
400-metre Relay – 2^nd – Garett Mallender, Richard Bourgeois, Evan Letkeman, Brett Zollen (3:48.10)
200-metre Freestyle – 2^nd – Cale Murdock (1:51.80), 3^rd - Garett Mallender (1:57.47), 4^th – Brett Zollen (2:00.31)
100-metre Backstroke – 1^st *CIS* – Ryan Howe (55.95), 2^nd – Evan Letkeman – 56.61), 4^th – Sebastien Michaud (59.29)
100-metre Breaststroke – 1^st – Aidan Thirkell (1:04.11), 3^rd – Richard Bourgeois (1:06.31)
200-metre Butterfly – 3^rd – Evan Letkeman (2:13.14), 4^th – Ryan Howe (2:16.05)
50-metre Freestyle – 2^nd – Cale Murdock (24.54), 3^rd – Baylee Munro (25.63)
100-metre Freestyle – 2^nd – Brett Zollen (52.83), 5^th – Sebastien Michaud (55.56), 6^th – Baylee Munro (55.87)
200-metre Backstroke – 1^st – Evan Letkeman (2:03.04), 3^rd – Garett Mallender (2:07.51)
200-metre Breaststroke – 1^st – Aidan Thirkell (2:22.22), 4^th – Richard Bourgeois (2:32.28)
400-metre Freestyle – 2^nd – Garett Mallender (4.16.39), 4^th – Aidan Thirkell (4:18.87)
100-metre Butterfly – 2^nd – Brett Zollen (57.06), 4^th – Cale Murdock (58.46)
200-metre IM – 2^nd *CIS* – Ryan Howe (2:04.53), 3^rd – Sebastien Michaud (2:08.33)
200-metre Freestyle Relay – 2^nd – Cale Murdock, Ryan Howe, Richard Bourgeois, Baylee Munro (1:38.28)
 
Women:
400-metre Relay – 3^rd – Sarah Galbraith, Kara Wilson, Juliana Bartemucci, Tabitha Craig (4:36.12)
200-metre Freestyle – 3^rd – Kara Wilson (2:11.41), 5^th – Tabitha Craig (2:24.74)
100-metre Breaststroke – 1^st - Sarah Galbraith (1:14.21), 3^rd – Kara Wilson (1:16.72), 6^th – Juliana Bartemucci (1:18.99)
50-metre Freestyle – 1^st – Sarah Galbraith (27.78), 4^th – Tabitha Craig (28.60), 5^th – Juliana Bartemucci (28.70)
100-metre Freestyle – 4^th – Kaitlin Gervais (1:01.05), 5^th – Tabitha Craig (1:05.50)
200-m Breaststroke – 2^nd – Kara Wilson (2:44.91)
400-m Freestyle – 1^st – Kaitlin Gervais (4:29.22), 3^rd – Taylor Snowden-Richardson (4:31.65), 4^th – Jesse Ogden (4:33.92), 6^th - Victoria Mock (4:37.11)
100-m Butterfly – 2^nd – 4^th Jessie Ogden (1:12.44), 5^th – Victoria Mock (1:12.92)
200-m IM – 1^st – Sarah Galbraith (2:24.82), 4^th – Taylor Snowden-Richardson (2:32.65), 5^th – Juliana Bartemucci (2:32.82)
200-m Freestyle Relay – 2^nd – Victoria Mock, Taylor Snowden-Richardson, Kaitlin Gervais, Jessie Ogden (1:54.31)