HALIFAX, N.S. – Rookie Samuel Wang of Sherbrooke, won two gold medals and set a Quebec conference record as the McGill men's swim team captured five events and finished first of seven schools at the second annual Kemp-Fry invitational meet. The three-day competition, hosted by Dalhousie University, Nov. 18-20, is named in honour of long-time Dalhousie coaches Nigel Kemp and David Fry.
 
A dozen McGill swimmers, including eight men, qualified for the U Sports national championships in Sherbrooke, Que., Feb. 24-26, bringing their total to 16 qualifiers thus far. It was the second meet victory of the season for the Redmen, who scored 950 points to beat out second-place Dalhousie (850.5). 

Wang, a 20-year-old biochemistry freshman, swam the fastest time in the country this year in the 50-metre butterfly, clocking in at 23.85 seconds to break his own McGill record (24.40) and the RSEQ mark (23.96) set earlier this year. The 5-foot-9, 152-pound sprinter also won the 100 fly in 53.54.
 
Other Redmen teammates who finished atop the podium were Jean-Daniel Vallieres, a science sophomore from Longueuil, Que., who won the 200 individual medley (2:02.84) and Colm Somers, a science freshman from Halifax, who swept both, the 100 breaststroke (1:02.89) and 200 breast (2:16.51). The dynamic duo were among eight new Redmen qualifiers. Vallieres reached the standard in both the 200 IM and 400 IM (4:22.93), while Somers achieved it in both the 100 and 200 breast, as well as the 400 IM (4:24.51).
 
The other Redmen qualifiers were freshman Anthony Ivakhnenko (200 backstroke, 2:02.34) of Oakville, Ont., sophomore Duncan Burns (400 IM, 4:28.47) of Fredericton, sophomore Kade Wist (100 fly, 55.20) of Calgary, sophomore Zachary Pilling (100 breast, 1:03.23) of Kirkland, Que., senior David Whiteside (200 fly; 2:04.19) of Burlington, Ont., and sophomore William Dixon (50 fly, 25.07) of Oakville.
 
Both the men's 400 freestyle and medley relays also went under the national standard which means that Brandon Freiberger, a freshman from Ladner, B.C., and junior Gabriel Fortin of Brossard, Que., have conditionally made the team for nationals by being members of those foursomes.

The host Tigers captured the women's division with 910 points, to finish ahead of second-place McGill (731). The Martlets struck gold six times, including two by Jessica Warrack, a chemical engineering junior from Rocky View, Alta., who took the 200 IM (2:19.73) and 400 IM (4:49.30). She also qualified for nationals in the 800m free, with a second-place finish and personal best time of 8:56.27.
 
"I am really proud of the whole team and the depth we have, especially in the men's side," said McGill head coach Peter Carpenter. "Our goal coming to Halifax was to qualify as many people as possible for the national championships and in that account we were the most successful team at this meet."

Martlets senior Simone Cseplo, a native of Toronto, also struck gold in the 100 free (56.98) and 200 free (2:01.57) and was joined atop the podium by freshman Farah Hafazalla (200 breast, 2:35.70) of Newmarket, Ont., and Valerie De Broux (100 breast), a fifth-year nursing senior from Westmount, Que., whose time of 1:11.61 met the qualifying standard.
 
Other new national qualifiers were Rebecca Gillis (200 back, 2:17.71), of Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., and freshman Esmee Smit-Anseeuw (50m fly, 28.27) of Surrey, B.C. The time posted by Gillis, a psychology sophomore, was especially gratifying as she suffered a badly sprained ankle a few days before the meet.
  
"I am also proud that the team dynamic has never been better," added Carpenter. " The team members really care about each other and are focused on the team's overall performance.  That fact is incredibly gratifying. We had so many near misses as well which are tough, but with the amount of best times we got it is very encouraging for the rest of the season."
 
The swim team now refocuses on getting ready for the December exam break, followed by a winter training camp in Barbados, Dec. 28 to Jan. 9. The next major competition is the fourth of five Quebec Cup meets, scheduled for Trois-Rivieres, Jan. 28, 2017.

SEE COMPLETE RESULTS

KEMP FRY SWIM MEET FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
 
Men:
1. McGill - 915 pts
2. Dalhousie - 850.5
3. Acadia - 399
4. Memorial - 289
5. UNB - 103
6. Mt. Allison - 178.5
7. UPEI - 41
 
Women:
1. Dalhousie - 910 pts
2. McGill - 731
3. Memorial - 300
4. Mt. Allison - 297
5. Acadia - 284
6. UNB - 267
7. UPEI - 64
 
SOURCE:
 
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)
www.mcgill athletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
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SEE COMPLETE McGILL VARSITY SCHEDULE ONLINE AT:
www.mcgillathletics.ca/calendar.aspx