Three Medal Day For Smal

(HALIFAX, NS) UNB's Leah Smal won three more medals on day two of the Atlantic University Swimming Championships, in Halfiax.

Smal won gold, her second of the championships, in the women's 100 metre backstroke.

She earned the silver medal in the women's 50 metre freestyle, and helped UNB take silver in the women's 4 X 200 metre relay, along with Lauren Goodine, Jennifer Moore, and Alexie Sanford.

Smal, who captured gold and bronze medals on day one, now has five in total.

Hannah Casey scored a silver medal in the women's 200 metre butterfly, her first individual medal of the championships.

"This medal means a lot to me," said Casey. "I've been doing a lot of training for this race specifically, and to have it pay off tonight was really exciting."

"Hannah's performance was thrilling," said Reds head coach Marta Belsh. "We knew she had a good race in her, and to actually see it happen and win a silver medal was outstanding."

On the men's side of the competition, Erik Staeben picked up two more medals on day two, giving him three so far this weekend.

Staeben took bronze in the men's 50 metre butterfly, and then earned silver in the 200 metre fly, finishing just 2/10ths of a second back of race winner Jacob Branchflower, of Dalhousie.

"Erik has been improving steadily over the season and his race tactics are getting much better," said Belsh. "He had a very consistent race in the morning heats and he improved on it in the evening, coming very close to winning the race from behind."

Dalhousie swimmers found themselves atop of the podium in seven of the 14 day two events. Acadia won five, while UNB and Mount Allison each won one event. 

"I'm so proud of the team and how they're swimming," said Belsh. "They've worked so hard this season and it's very exciting to see how much their efforts are paying off."

At the end of the second day of competition, the team standings are as follows: 

Women's 

Dalhousie - 730.5

Acadia - 444

University of New Brunswick - 340

Memorial - 330

Mount Allison - 177.50

Men's 

Acadia - 716

Dalhousie - 488

Memorial - 315

University of New Brunswick - 258

Mount Allison - 121

The final day of action is Sunday, with heats starting at 10:00am and finals at 6:00pm.

RECAP BY: UNB Athletics/Dal Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Trevor MacMillan/for Dal Athletics