NEWS RELEASE
GUELPH MARLINS
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It’s been a long run of championship meets, and the finale for mid-season ended with the 2023 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials hosted in Scarborough at the Toronto Pan Am Pool from March 28 to April 2.
The meet hosted top swimmer talent from all across Canada and included a range of swimmers from first-time qualifiers to the likes of Summer McIntosh, who crushed two world records. Trials was a selection meet for World Championships, Jr World Championships, Para World Championships and the Pan American Games.
Proudly, GMAC sent two athletes to the Canadian Trials. Jenna Walters, 16, raced valiantly in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, and 50 fly. Walters raced to lifetime best times, qualified for the junior final and placed in the top 20 in Canada in all her freestyle events.
“Overall, it was a very exciting opportunity, and I learned a lot. Watching Canadian Olympians compete and break multiple records was amazing. I am very happy to be part of this experience and proud that I was able to represent the Guelph Marlins at a national event," Walters remarked.
Ali Kudo, 19, who currently attends Eastern Michigan University on a swimming scholarship, came back to Canada to dip her feet in the pool in the 200 free and 800 free. Kudo finished top 20 in the 800 free and raced in the B final of the 200 free. Kudo also qualified for trials in 2020, but due to COVID, events were cancelled.
“This was a great first experience attending Trials for the girls to be in the pool and compete with Canada’s top swim talent, and I was truly proud of their performances," said Laura Nicholls, attending Guelph Marlins coach, two-time Olympian and GMAC’s director of age group and development.
Looking ahead, the Guelph Marlins team will see its competitive group compete in Waterloo at the Cunningham Classic on April 14-16 and their pre-competitive novice level swimmers right here at home on April 16 at the Spring Skills and Thrills Meet.
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