Blues down Mustangs in dual meet action

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's and women's swimming team defeated the Western Mustangs in dual-meet action on Saturday, January 14 at Varsity Pool.
 
"This meet was an important meet because it is a month until the OUA championships and we needed this to gauge our progress," said Varsity Blues head coach Byron MacDonald. "Many of the swimmers are on track to where we need them to be at this point but the next three weeks of work is absolutely critical if we are going to succeed at the OUA and national championships."
 
Third-year standout and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Kylie Masse led Toronto's women, setting meet and Varsity records and meeting U Sports standards in winning the 200 butterfly (2:09.80) and 400 freestyle (4:10.18) events.
 
"Kylie continues to throw in amazing swims," added MacDonald. "We put her in two events she rarely ever swims and she broke long-standing and illustrious Varsity records in both of them – previously held by national champions."
 
Fellow co-captain Cino Ling also won two races, placing first in the 200 individual medley (IM) (2:21.62) and 200 backstroke (2:21.11). The other double winner was Rachael Parsons, who set a U Sports standard in the 100 breaststroke in 1:11.79, while also winning the 200 breaststroke in 2:37.25).
 
"It's nice to see Cino leading the way. She wasn't able to train during the summer so it took her a little longer to get in shape. Now she is showing her true form and winning two events tonight was a real positive step."
 
Other U Sports championship standards were set by rookie Olivia Sbaraglia in the 100 freestyle (56.93), Rachel Rodé in the 100 backstroke (1:02.73) and Victoria Radounski in the 200 freestyle (2:02.69).
 
Rookie Jess Yu rounded out the victories, winning the 100 butterfly in 1:03.31.
 
Toronto's men were led by team co-captain Eli Wall. The fourth-year veteran won the 100 breaststroke (1:03.59) and 200 breaststroke (2:18.97) events.
 
"On the men's side, other than Eli winning his breaststroke events, there were some unheralded swimmers contributing wins," added MacDonald. "Michael Sinila had his fastest-ever in-season performance, Keith Eriks in the 100 backstroke and Will Morley in the 200 freestyle."
 
U Sports standards were also met by Hochan Ryu in the 200 IM (2:01.66), Mitch Ferraro in the 100 freestyle (50.47), Michael Sinila in the 200 butterfly (2:03.45), Keith Eriks in the 100 backstroke (56.29), Cameron Kidd in the 50 freestyle (22.74), Ian MacKinnon in the 400 freestyle (3:57.03), Edward Liu in the 100 butterfly (54.69) and Matthew Mac in the 200 backstroke. Will Morley also picked up a win in the 200 freestyle in 1:54.45.
 
The Varsity Blues return to action next weekend (Jan. 20-21) as they compete at the Eastern Cup in Montreal and host the Toronto Invitational at Varsity Pool. 

Source: Toronto Varsity Blues