February 8, 2017
By Rob J. Ross
LONDON, Ont. - Mac Watson could not be beat.
The Parskide Collegiate Institute athlete won his three races, at the Thames Valley Region Athletics swim championships, February 7-8, at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre.
Watson was first in the high school division under-14 boys 50-metre butterfly (29.81 seconds), 100-metre free (1:00.74) and 50-metre free (27.05).
Competitors had to meet qualifying times to advance to the WOSSAA meet, hosted again at the CGAC, on February 16.
Parkside, St. Joseph's, Lord Dorchester and East Elgin Secondary, combined for 14 swimmers moving on to WOSSAA.
Along with Watson, Megan Helmer, Sarah Looby and a relay team, will represent PCI at WOSSAA.
Helmer, in the high school 15 years and over division, placed fifth, in the 50 free, sixth, 100 backstroke and ninth, 50 butterfly.
Looby, also in the the high school 15 years and over division, placed seventh in both the 50 free and 100 free.
The girls' 200-metre free relay team, of Looby, Helmer, Sydney Martin and Maegan Mahffy-Schmidt, was fifth.
St. Joe's will have five swimmers at WOSSAA, led by Kayla Keyes, who in the high school under 14 years division, won the 50 free (31.13 sec.) and 50 butterfly (34.94). Keyes also qualified for the 100 free, placing third.
Haeley Demeray, in the high school under 14 years division, finished second, in the 50 breaststroke and fourth in the butterfly.
Julia McCord, in the high school under 14 years division, placed eighth, in both the 50 butterfly and 50 free.
Breanne Bonter, in the high school 15 years and over division, placed fifth, in the 100 free.
Madison Morin, in the high school under 14 years division, was fifth in the 50 back and 12th in the 50 free.
The East Elgin Eagles send four individuals, all in the open divisions, and a relay team, to WOSSAA.
Maggie Zimmer qualified eighth, for the 200 free.
Brianne Cunningham qualified in the 100 back, 50 free and 100 I.M., while Melena Sianna moves on in the 50 free.
Cunningham, Siannas, join Sarah Smith and Victoria McMillan, on the open girls' 400-metre relay team.
Seth Walker qualifies for the open boys' 50 free, 100 I.M. and 100 back.
Cloe Seliga, from Lord Dorchester, finished third, in both the open girls division 100 I.M. and butterfly, as well as a fifth place, in the 50 free.