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Liendo caps 2018 Speedo Eastern Nationals with five gold

News –

WINDSOR, Ont. – Joshua Liendo of North York, Ont., was the big individual star this weekend at the 2018 Speedo Eastern Nationals swimming competition collecting five gold medals including two on Sunday to conclude the meet.

In the 200-m butterfly boys 14-16 age group, Liendo clocked two minutes and 06.14 seconds and a few minutes later went 24.07 to take top spot in the 50-m freestyle. He also won the 50-m and 100-m butterfly and 100-m freestyle this week.

‘’The 200 fly was a bit rough, it didn’t feel as good as it should have,’’ said Liendo, 15. ‘’The 50-free I was a bit tired but toughed it out. I had a pretty good weekend. The highlight for me was my 100 fly. I was only 0.2 seconds off the national age group record.’’

Liendo was named the age group’s top male swimmer of the meet.

Other winners Sunday in the age group were Jacob Gallant of Fredericton in the 200-m individual medley and Eric Brown of Pointe-Claire, Que., in the 800-m freestyle.

William Marois of St-Eustache, Que., was named the top swimmer in the men’s 17 and over group. He won the 200-m IM for his fourth gold and fifth medal overall.

‘’It was tougher than I thought, I was hoping to get into the 2:03,’’ said Marois, who clocked 2:05.55 in his 200-m IM win. ‘’Overall it was a hard meet and I know I have to train harder going into the summer season.’’

Also with wins in the age group were Spencer Bougie of Pointe-Claire in the 50-m freestyle, Ray Yang of Etobicoke, Ont., in the 200-m butterfly and Xavier Pimentel of Gatineau in the 800-m freestyle.

In girls 13-15 age group, Genevieve Sasseville of Chatham, Ont., earned her third gold winning the 50-m freestyle while Lora Willar of Pointe-Claire, Que., collected her first gold in the 200-m butterfly.

Also with wins were Asia Minnes of Vernon, B.C., in the 200 IM and Keena Smallegange of Burlington, Ont., in the 1500-m freestyle. Brooklyn Doouthwright of Riverview, N.B., also earned three gold and was named the age group’s top swimmer.

Commonwealth Games team member Mabel Zavaros of Oakville, Ont., who only competed on Saturday and Sunday, collected two more gold in the women’s 16 and over with wins in the 200-m butterfly and 50-m freestyle. She tied in the 50-m free with Charlotte Beauchemin of Montreal. Zavaros earned three victories this weekend.

However the swimmer of the meet for the age group was Katrina Brathwaite of Pointe-Claire. She won four medals including gold in the 100-m breaststroke and 400-m IM on Friday and the 200-m breaststroke on Thursday.

‘’I improved a lot from last week at nationals,’’ said Brathwaite. ‘’I’m really proud with how I handled my races.’’

Also with victories were Aela Janvier of Pointe-Claire in the 200 IM and Rosalie Davidson of Montreal in the 1500-m freestyle.

In Para swimming winners were Vincent Desrosiers of Drummondville, Que., and Danielle Dorris of Moncton in the 200-m IM.

The Pointe-Claire Swim Club placed first in the overall team standings.

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