Karley Stutzel Excels at CWUAA

The 2004 Canada West Swimming Championships saw UVic walk away with 4 medals on day one.

Leading the way was fourth year swimmer Karley Stutzel, who won the gold medal in the women's 800m freestyle in a new Canada West record time of 8:41.24. Vike Danielle Bell took the bronze coming home in a time of 8:55.74.

Dave Creel opened up the championships by winning the silver medal in the men's 1500m freestyle event. Creel touched the final wall in a time of 15:46.43 to finish three seconds behind the University of Calgary 's Richard Cormack.

The Vikes women's 4x200m freestyle relay team of Stutzel, Bell , Erika Hunzinger and Laina Steeple swam to a podium spot winning bronze, recording a time of 8:28.81. The men's 4x200m team of Creel, Adam Slater, Dave MacDonald and Erich Schmitt placed fourth.

On day two Dave Creel provided the Vikes with the only medal of the night, finishing with a bronze in the Men's 400m Individual Medley, after swimming the event in 4:30.20. Even though he didn't medal, Adam Slater had a night to remember as his 400 metre Individual Medley swim of 4:35.35 was fast enough to qualify him for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Championship in Toronto , ON , this March.

Danielle Bell backed up her good performance from last night, finishing seventh in the women,s 400 metre Individual Medley in a time of 5:09.36. Karley Stutzel was impressive in her 200 metre freestyle swim, touching the wall in fifth place. Erich Schmitt was the lone Vike in the men's 200 metre backstroke final and placed fifth.

The most inspirational swim of the day went to UVic paralympic swimmer Steph Dixon, who not only made finals, but also earned her able-bodied CI qualifying time. Touching in on the 200M Backstroke at 2:24.68, Dixon showed that she will be a force to be reckoned with at CI's this March.

The Vikes women's 4x100m freestyle relay team of Stutzel, Bell , Hunzinger and Steeple swam well to take out third place. The men's 4x100m team of Creel, Slater, Erich Schmitt and Dave MacDonald placed sixth.

Day three saw Karley Stutzel coming away the Vikes medal winner after producing an outstanding 400 metre (m) freestyle swim of 4:18.23 to win the gold. Danielle Bell finished only two and a half seconds behind Stutzel to place fifth. Stutzel was also rewarded for her exceptional distance swimming by being selected as a Canada West All-Star.

Victoria rookie Andrew Bell was impressive in his 200m breaststroke final, coming home in fourth position with a time of 2:27.24. Dave Creel topped off a sound meet by completing his 400m freestyle event in 4:02.52 to finish in fourth place. Katie Humphries and Chantal Huard both qualified for the women,s 200m butterfly final, recording times of 2:27.42 and 2:31.16 to finish seventh and eight respectively.

The Vikes men,s 400m medley relay team of Creel, Erich Schmitt, Andrew Bell and Dave MacDonald were up in the last event of the Championship, where they swam together well to take fourth place after stopping the clock at 4:02.26. The women,s 400m medley relay squad of Stutzel, Bell , Laina Steeple and Meagan Sinclair come home in a time of 4:31.62 to be awarded fifth.