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Wiseman and Herbert win twice at 2018 Speedo Western Nationals

News –

VICTORIA – Avery Wiseman of Drayton Valley, Alta., and Bailey Herbert of Langley, B.C., were double winners on Friday at the 2018 Speedo Western Nationals swimming competition.

Wiseman posted wins in the 100-m breaststroke (1:10.30) and 400-m individual medley (4:52.40) in the women’s 16 and over age group while Herbert triumphed in the same races in the girls 13-15 category clocking 1:11.61 in the 100-m breaststroke and 4:55.02 in the 400-m IM.

Molly Gowans of Victoria notched a second victory in two days placing first in the 16 and over 100-m freestyle in 56.81. Danielle Hanus of Victoria was second in 56.92 and Kyla Leibel of Red Deer, Alta., third in 57.10.

‘’I haven’t gone that fast in a long time,’’ said Gowans. ‘’I just went in to have a good race and I wasn’t really expecting that time. I was happy when I saw it.’’

Other winners in the women’s 16 and over age group were Hanus in the 50-m backstroke, and Paige Roughley of Oshawa, Ont., in the 50-m butterfly.

One of the most decisive victories so far was Josh Zakala of Victoria in the men’s 16 and over 400-m individual medley. He clocked 4:18.64 more than 12 seconds ahead of his closest pursuer.

‘’It’s great to put down strong races in that event two weeks in a row,’’ said Zakala. ‘’I was especially pleased with my backstroke split tonight which had been a bit flat lately in that race.’’

Also victors in the same age group were Alex Pratt of Calgary in the 100-m freestyle, Christopher Alexander of Lethbridge, Alta., in the 50-m backstroke, Ruishen Yu of Surrey, B.C., in the 100-m breaststroke and Nicolaas Dekker of Richmond, B.C., in the 50-m butterfly.

In boys 14-16, Cole Pratt of Calgary won his third individual gold with a victory in the 100-m freestyle. Other winners in the age group included Joshua Kim of Langley, B.C., in the 100-m breaststroke and Mathieu Cyr of Calgary in the 400-m individual medley.

In Para swimming, winners were Nick Bennett of Nanaimo, B.C., and Shelby Newkirk of Saskatoon in the 100-m freestyle and Jonathan Dieleman of Richmond, B.C., and Arianna Hunsicker of Surrey, B.C., in the 100-m breaststroke.

Hannah Bennet of Calgary won the 100-m freestyle in the girls 13-15 age group.

Competition continues through to Sunday at Saanich Commonwealth Place.

Full results: https://results.swimming.ca/2018_Speedo_Western_Championships/