Western Canadian Champs 2015

The longer a competition goes on with heats, finals, triumph and disappointment, early mornings, late evenings and thousands of meters done in preparation for a competition, the more competitors get weeded out. 4-5-6 day meets and multiple competitions in succession are part of top level swimming. Only teams that come in healthy and fit and who stick together can show perserverance and presence of mind in the finals sessions of a major competition. Today was such a day for the PCS athletes who showed up enthusiastic and competitive this morning. The group came thru the session anchoring down 12 final positions for tonight. Lauren Crisp and Molly Gowans will have each raced over 20 times in the four days and claimed multiple medals for the team. Seven of the 10 athletes here in Edmonton will compete in finals today.

in 200 Fly Gowans will take on the top seeds from 10th spot. Allison Ballantyne will start in 15th position - both ripped into their swims this morning and improved on previous best ever outcomes. Justin Howe will start in 9th on the men's side and training partner, Stefan Nasedkin, will compete in the B Final from 15th.

In 200IM Allison Ballatyne(13th), Eden Kormendy(16th) and Lauren Crisp(20th) will all have anther go tonight. In 50 Fr Molly Gowans sits sixth after prelims and will crank it up for her 25th and final individual swim of the meet.

in the 1500 Fr Gowans took home the gold earlier today concluding her sweep of 200,400,800,1500Fr, all of which were faster than the winning times at the Eastern Champs concluding tonight in Quebec City. Eden Kormendy was 14th and Rachel Sawchuk finished just out of the top 10 in 11th spot with a PB. In men's swimming Justin Howe will start in 10th place. Stefan Nasedkin swam this morning notching 11th place.

The 4x50 MR will conclude the proceedings. Crisp, Carter, Ballantyne and Gowans will take to the pool in the relay from 11th position.

Final Session goes off at 5:00pm MST.