HALIFAX, N.S. - Acadia Axemen and Axewomen Swimming competed for the first time since November in a dual meet against the Dalhousie Tigers on February 26th. The meet, in an unusual two-team format, was a lead-up racing opportunity for both teams in preparation for the Atlantic University Sports Championships scheduled for March 11th-13th at Dalhousie University.
The competition included timed finals in the 200 metre medley relay, the 300 metre freestyle, the 50 metre freestyle, the 100 metre Individual Medley, the 100 metre butterfly, the 100 metre freestyle, the 100 metre backstroke, the 150 metre freestyle, the 100 metre breaststroke, and the 200 metre freestyle relay. Each team scored points for individual top-three finishes as well as points for each relay event win.
The medley relay was the opening event of the competition. The Axewomen's team of Jessica Pelletier, Sarah MacDougall, Aideen Nelson, and Holly McCool were third in 2:07.07 to winning team Dalhousie (2:02.02).
Emily Schofield of Dalhousie was the winner of the women's 300 freestyle in 3:26.62. Acadia's Elizabeth Morrison was third in 3:32.11, and Annie Ingo was fifth in 3:37.02. On the men's side, Bo Stokesbury-Price of Acadia took the win in 3:06.97 over Acadia's Cameron Ingo, who was second in 3:07.25. Acadia's Joshua Elsworth and Owen Landry were sixth and seventh in 3:29.15 and 3:32.63 respectively.
Dalhousie's Veronica Hollick was the 50 freestyle winner on the women's side in 27.90 over Acadia's Grace Earle in 28.12. Acadia's Lia Lancaster was fifth in 29.00, Kassidy Hamilton was seventh in 29.67, Jessica Pelletier was eighth in 29.86, Holly McCool was ninth in 30.45, and Victoria Flowerday was tenth in 30.80.
In the men's competition, the Tiger's Ewan Maclean was first in 24.81. Daeton Pitre took third for Acadia in 25.21, while Acadia's Aaron Day and Sean Vibert were sixth and ninth in 25.50 and 26.34 respectively.
In the women's 100 metre Individual Medley, Martine Nyhof of Dalhousie placed first in 1:08.68 over Acadia's Kali Lancaster, who was second in 1:09.42. Acadia's Sarah MacDougall was fourth in 1:13.31, while Cali Bruce was eighth in 1:14.56, and Jessica Pelletier was tenth in
1:22.26.
Gordon Shortt took the win for Acadia on the men's side. Acadia's Elyott Chang was fourth in 1:00.11, Dean Sangster was sixth in 1:00.76, Shane Kenny was seventh in 1:01.95, and Aubrey Landry was eighth in 1:02.72.
In the 100 metre butterfly, Acadia's Kassidy Hamilton was the winner on the women's side in 1:09.41, while Acadia's Aideen Nelson was fourth in 1:11.07.
In the men's race, Elyott Chang took the win in 58.87, while Acadia's Bo Stokesbury-Price and Cameron Ingo were fifth and sixth in 1:01.31 and 1:02.10 respectively.
Regan Crowell of Dalhousie was the winner in the women's 100 metre freestyle in 58.03. Grace Earle of Acadia placed third in 1:01.24, while Acadia's Elizabeth Morrison was fourth in 1:01.39. Acadia's Kali Lancaster was fifth in 1:01.90, Lia Lancaster was ninth in 1:04.80, Holly McCool was tenth in 1:08.35, and Victoria Flowerday was eleventh in 1:08.97.
On the men's side, the Tiger's Adam Bouma was first in 54.38 over Acadia's Bo Stokesbury-Price, who was second in 54.53. Daeton Pitre and Sean Vibert of Acadia were sixth and seventh in 56.23 and 58.95 respectively.
In the 100 metre backstroke, Martine Nyhof of Dalhousie was the winner in 1:07.03 over Acadia's Cali Bruce, who was fifth in 1:14.16.
In the men's race, Liam Ferguson of Dalhousie was first in 58.70, just edging out Acadia's Aaron Day, who was second in 59.01. Acadia's Owen Landry and Sean Vibert were sixth and seventh in 1:08.12 and 1:16.82 respectively.
Mikhaela Johnson of the Tigers took the win in the women's 150 metre freestyle over Acadia's Annie Ingo, who was fourth in 1:43.55.
On the men's side, Noah Mascoll-Gomes was the winner in 1:23.22 over Acadia's Cameron Ingo, who was second in 1:27.59. Acadia's Joshua Elsworth was sixth in 1:34.14, Lucas Perkins was seventh in 1:35.05, and Sean Vibert was eighth in 1:42.00.
In the final individual event of the night, the 100 metre breaststroke, Abbey Corish was the winner on the women's side in 1:18.19. Sarah MacDougall and Grace Earle, both of Acadia, were third and fourth in 1:19.65 and 1:21.08 respectively.
In the men's race, Acadia's Gordon Shortt won his second event of the day in 1:05.42 over Acadia's Elyott Chang, who was second in 1:09.18. Dean Sangster of Acadia was fourth in 1:11.36, while Aubrey Landry was fifth in 1:11.56, Shane Kenny was sixth in 1:12.08, and Sean Vibert was eighth in 1:23.78.
Closing out the competition was the 200 freestyle relay. The Axewomen's team of Elizabeth Morrison, Lia Lancaster, Kassidy Hamilton, and Aideen Nelson were second in 1:55.64 to the Tigers, who took the win in 1:51.35.
The Axemen's team of Dean Sangster, Shane Kenny, Daeton Pitre, and Gordon Shortt just out-touched Dalhousie for the win in 1:38.58 over the Tiger's 1:38.61.
Acadia Axemen and Axewomen swimming will be back in action for the AUS Championships, where the Axemen will be looking to defend their championship title from 2020, and the Axewomen will be aiming for their first title since 1980.
Provided by Maddie Murray, Acadia Athletics Communications
Final Team Standings:
Men
Dalhousie - 43 Points
Acadia - 43 Points
Women
Dalhousie - 70 Points
Acadia - 16 Points