Kingston Leads REDS At Kemp-Fry

(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB REDS celebrated numerous podium finishes and a U SPORTS Championship qualification at the third meet of the Atlantic University Sport swimming season, in Halifax, November 28-30.

Blake Kingston won the men's 100-metre breaststroke at the Kemp-Fry Invitational, hosted by the Dalhousie Tigers.

Kingston swam to second place in the 200-metre breaststroke and fourth in the 50-metres, a race in which the top four finishers touched the wall within 35/100ths of a second. Kingston also swam third in the men's 50-metre freestyle.

"It was nice to get up and see where we're at so far this season," said Kingston. "Now, going into December and training camp, we know what it'll take to step it up for championship season."

First-year RED Maria McDougall led UNB's women's contingent with three second place finishes in the 50, 100, and 200 metre freestyle events.

In the 100-metres, McDougall's time of 57.13 seconds qualified her for the U SPORTS Championships, March 12-14, in Markham, Ontario.

In the 50-metres, McDougall was the fastest qualifier and finished just 8/100ths of a second behind the winner.

"It was exciting to compete in my first Kemp-Fry," said McDougall. "I'm proud of how the team performed and I'm excited to see what we can accomplish heading into our training camp and the AUS Championships."

REDS' head coach Marta Belsh says McDougall had an impressive weekend.

"On Saturday, she missed a U SPORTS qualifying time by one one-hundredth of a second in the 50-free, and while it was a personal best, it was a little disappointing, missing it by such a small margin. The next day, she didn't look back and stayed calm and ready for the 100-free. She executed the race as planned and beat the U SPORTS standard."

In the women's 50-metre butterfly, UNB's Hannah MacLeod earned a third-place finish, one she shared with Dal's Mia Stein-Blumberg when both finished in identical times of 29.11 seconds.

UNB's Maxime Kenny was third in the men's 50-metre butterfly. In the 100-metre butterfly, Kenny swam to a second-place finish, just ahead of teammate Daniel Duguay in third. Kenny was second in the men's 50 and 100 metre backstrokes.

Olivia Levesque raced to a third-place finish in the women's 400-metre individual medley.

Camden Reid was third in the men's 200-metre butterfly, and Will Franklin was third in the men's 100-metre freestyle.

In a very close women's 50-metre backstroke, the REDS Bronwyn Preece was fourth, just 9/100ths back of third place and 5/10ths out of first.

UNB finished second in the overall team standings, behind the host Dal Tigers and ahead of Mount Allison and Memorial.

UNB was second in the men's standings and third in the women's standings.

The REDS will host the next meet on the AUS schedule, the Amby Legere Invitational, January 24-25, at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, in Saint John.

STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS

PHOTOS BY: Seth Murphy/for UNB REDS Swimming