Quebec City, Quebec - Six Acadia swimmers competed at the 2022 U-Sports Swimming Championships at Laval University March 24th-26th. Grace Earle, Jessica Pelletier, Dean Sangster, Gordon Shortt, Shane Kenny, and Bo Stokesbury-Price achieved the qualifying standards to compete for Acadia. Over the course of three days, the Axemen and Axewomen qualified for a total of 10 individual finals. Read on for a day-by-day breakdown.
Day 1: March 24th
Day one of the competition got off to a strong start with three individual swims in the first finals session. Jessica Pelletier won the C final in the women's 50 metre backstroke in 29.45 for 17th overall, while Dean Sangster was 18th in 25.62 in the men's 50 metre backstroke, bettering his own Acadia record of 25.79. Shane Kenny was also a C final winner for 17th place in the men's 100-metre butterfly in 54.45, eclipsing his previous Acadia record of 54.70. The Axemen's team of Sangster, Bo Stokesbury-Price, Gordon Shortt, and Kenny were 11th in the men's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay in 3:23.37 to conclude the night.
Full Results Day 1:
50 back - 29th, 30.41
50 back - 17th, 29.45
50 back - 18th, 25.62 (New Acadia Record)
100 breast - 38th, 1:05.38
100 fly - 17th, 54.45 (New Acadia Record)
50 back - 27th, 26.34
Men's 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay
11th, 3:23.37
Day 2: March 25th
Acadia swimmers continued to put up a strong showing on day 2 with three swims in the finals. Dean Sangster qualified for the A final in the men's 50 metre freestyle, finishing 8th in 22.83. Shane Kenny was 10th in the men's 50 metre butterfly, finishing 2nd in the B final in 24.23, just 0.24 off his AUS record. In the men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay, the Axemen's team of Bo Stokesbury-Price, Sangster, Gordon Shortt, and Kenny finished 10th in 7:39.10.
Full Results Day 2:
100 back - 32nd, 1:05.52
100 back - 35th, 1:06.71
50 free - 43rd, 28.35
50 free - 8th, 22.83
50 fly - 25th, 25.08
200 breast - 2:24.34, 39th
50 fly - 25.40, 35th
50 fly - 9th, 24.23
50 free - 23.47, 34th
Men's 4 x 200 freestyle relay
10th, 7:39.10
Day 3: March 26th
On the final day of competition, Grace Earle qualified for the final in the women's 200 metre backstroke in her first year of university competition. Earle finished 24th in 2:19.46. In the men's 4 x 100 medley relay, the Axemen's team of Dean Sangster, Gordon Shortt, Shane Kenny, and Bo Stokesbury-Price finished 12th in 3:45.76.
Full Results Day 3:
100 free - 41st, 1:01.56
200 back - 24th, 2:19.46
100 free - 43rd, 1:05.02
100 free - 32nd, 51.09
50 breast - 29th, 29.28
Men's 4 x 100 Medley Relay
12th, 3:45.76
Veteran Acadia swimmer and 4-time U-Sports qualifier Jessica Pelletier will be graduating this spring and swam her very last competitive race at the 2022 U-Sports. About her swimming career and the competition, Pelletier said: "Acadia swimming has changed my perspective and grown my love for this sport. Swimming has given me so many amazing life-long connections, and I am so grateful to have started this sport and stuck with it all the way to the end. If it weren't for my teammates, I believe getting my degree would be almost impossible! The support I'm given is confidence-boosting and filled with love. I love you, Acadia Swimming."
In the final team standings, the Axemen finished 14th among 23 universities, while the Axewomen finished 19th among 20 universities.
Congratulations to Head Coach Kris Bell, to Acadia Swimming, and to Grace, Jess, Dean, Shane, Gordon, and Bo.
Contribution by Maddie Murray, Acadia Athletics Communications