QUEBEC CITY – Isabel Sarty and Naomie Lo each posted a pair of gold medal finishes as the McGill women's swim team swept its fourth consecutive meet in the RSEQ University Cup series, Friday, at Laval's Centre PEPS in the provincial capital.

The Martlets collected a meet-high 17 podium finishes, with six gold medals, five silvers and a half-dozen bronzes. They finished first of six teams with 538.5 points, easily out-distancing second-place Laval (301). Ottawa (287) was third, followed by the Montreal Carabins (174), Sherbrooke (100.5) and UQTR (5).

McGill also won the men's division for the second time in four meets (link to story).

"On the women's side, this result assures of a very healthy lead in the standings," said McGill head coach Peter Carpenter, whose squad leads second-place Ottawa the RSEQ conference standings by 113.87 points "One that will also keep us nicely ahead in the combined category to repeat as banner (champions) and take the trophy home at the end of the year."

Sarty, a 23-year-old master's student in neuroscience, was McGill's top scorer at the meet with 579 points on the FINA scale, finishing second behind Laval's Danika Ethier (601). The native of Halifax struck gold in the 50m free (26.55) and was part of the winning 4x100 free relay (3:53.89). She also had one silver (200 free) and a bronze (4x100 MR).

Lo, who hails from Toronto, was the third-leading scorer at the meet with 557.5 FINA points. The 19-year-old computer science sophomore won both the 200 free (2:06.33) and the 800 free (9:08.89). She finished second in the 100 butterfly and was fourth in the 4x100 free relay.

"Naomie has something special," Carpenter said.  "Her compete level is absolutely off the charts.  She is a tiny little firecracker and is never out of a race.  Winning two individuals today is a testament to her heart and work ethic."

Daphne Danyluk , a senior from Rivière-des-Prairies, Que., matched Sarty for most podium finishes at the meet. The master's student in experimental medicine racked up gold in the aforementioned 4x100 free relay, along with a silver (400 IM) and a pair of bronzes (200 back; 4x100 MR).

This also marked the final University Cup meet for McGill veteran Nikki van Noord of Hudson, Que., who won the 200 back in 2:18.90, which translated into 700 points on the FINA scoring scale, the fifth highest total at the meet. It was the first-ever race victory in her five seasons and it also qualified her for the world championship trials in April. Currently completing a master's in kinesiology after graduating last spring with an engineering degree, she also finished eighth in the 100 breast.

"It is hard to express how gratifying and how proud I am of the journey Nikki had been on with this team," noted Carpenter.  "She was my last selection to the team six years ago.  I took her because I had heard from her previous coach what a good person she was and I am definitely in the business of coaching good people.  She served as captain for two years and has been the heart and soul of this team.  We literally would not be the same team without her.  For her to have swam that time and to have won that race in her last ever Cup meet, is unforgettable for me. I would have been satisfied leaving the meet with just that result."

McGill's other gold medal performances were produced by 18-year-old science freshman Iris Tinmouth (gold in 400 IM, 5:03.43; silver in 800 free) of Comox, B.C., civil engineering junior Elizabeth Ling (gold in 4x100 free relay, bronze in both the 50 breast and 50 free) of Calgary and Cailin McMurray (gold in 4x100 free relay, bronze in 100 fly), a biology sophomore from Montreal.

There were no new McGill qualifiers for Nationals in this one-day competition to add to the 16 men and 19 women that have already made the standard in earlier meets.

"The group was asked to bring positive energy to the deck today despite the hard work load they have been under and they were definitely the loudest team on deck," Carpenter added.  "The support they showed each other was incredible."

The McGill swimmers will continue training this weekend with a lift session on Saturday (Jan. 21) and a loose swim on Sunday. Next on tap is the RSEQ championship meet, the fifth and final leg of the University Cup series, which accounts for 50 per cent of the final standings. A three-day competition in Trois-Rivieres, Que., Feb. 3-5, it will be the last opportunity for swimmers to qualify for the U SPORTS national championship in Victoria, B.C., Feb. 23-25.

COMPLETE MEET RESULTS FROM UNIVERSITY CUP 4 (PDF)

RSEQ STANDINGS (PDF)

RSEQ MEET-BY-MEET RESULTS


SOURCE
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca