Whitehorse’s Mackenzie Downing, swimming for the University of Victoria and Pacific Coast Swimming, completed a sweep in the butterfly events at the Senior National Swimming Championships in Calgary on the weekend.
Downing won gold in the 50-, 100- and 200-metre events. She also took gold in the 800-metre freestyle.
Glacier Bears swimmers Alexandra Gabor and Bronwyn Pasloski also competed at the Senior Nationals, which is an open event (no age group divisions). Competing against much older swimmers, they posted impressive results.
Gabor finished 7th in the 800-metre freestyle, and 13th in the 200-metre freestyle, making the B-final.
Pasloski made the B-final in both the 100- and 200-metre breaststroke, finishing 15th and 12th respectively, and posted a personal best in the 100-metre butterfly.
Next up for these young swimmers is the Western Canada Summer Games, August 3 to 6 in Strathcona, Alberta.
Intersport Fun Run
Submitted by Athletics Yukon
It was fitting that Athletics Yukon’s annual fundraiser for the Kids Recreation Fund would have its biggest turnout of the season.
A record of 66 participants ran and walked under warm but blustery conditions to raise money for the recreation fund.
For the past eight years the fund has existed to allow youth from financially disadvantaged families to participate in sport and recreation programs.
For the past few years, Athletics Yukon has designated one of its Tuesday night races as a fundraiser for the recreation fund by donating the registration proceeds.
Tuesday’s weekly event raised about $200 for the fund.
Brock University varsity runner Rodney Hulstein had all cylinders firing as he blew away the field with a time of 16:21 over the five kilometres.
Decorated cross-country skier Nathan Doering turned on the jets at the 3-kilometre mark to overtake three other runners and finish in second place at 18:47. He was followed very closely by Duane Shewfelt (18:51) and Sean Macdonald (18:59).
Marathon man Keith Thaxter, who has completed at least one marathon a month this year, including last weekend’s Yukon Gold Ultra, sprinted the last 50 metres with Tom Ullyett that resulted in a tie.
The “yellow jersey” of Whitehorse running still belongs to masters runner Sue Bogle.
Last night she broke the 20-minute barrier for the first time this season with a time of 19:55. This made her the fastest female runner of the evening and seventh fastest amongst all runners.
At 20:35, 16-year-old Brittany Smith was the second-fastest female. This was perhaps Smith’s final race before leaving early next week as a member of Team Yukon for the Western Canada Summer Games in Alberta.
One minute behind Smith was Janet Clarke (21:35), a perennial contender who is no stranger to the podium.
Just six seconds behind Clarke was Tuesday night regular Josianne Markley (21:41). Fresh off a triple gold medal performance at the Canadian Orienteering Championships, Pam James finished in fourth place at 23:19.
On the walking side of this event, avid speed walker Sue Dennehy (38:09) led the way for the women while Rick Griffiths (34:12) was the fastest man once again.