Smal Shines At Dal Meet

(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB Reds continued to show improvements during the weather-shortened Dalhousie Invitational, the first Atlantic University Sport swim meet of 2019, and the last before the AUS Championships.

Leah Smal (Fredericton, NB) won the women's 100 metre backstroke, finished second in the 50 metre backstroke, and was fourth in the women's 100 metre freestyle.

In the women's 50 metre freestyle, UNB's Alexie Sanford (New Maryland, NB) was third, just ahead of teammate Jennifer Moore (Hamilton, ON).

UNB women's teams swam to third place finishes in the 200 metre medley relay and the 4-by-50 metre freestyle relay.

Noah Horwood (Fredericton, NB) led the UNB men, finishing second in the men's 50 metre breaststroke.

Erik Staeben was third in the men's 100 metre butterfly and finished fourth in the 50 metre butterfly, just four-tenths of a second back of the winner. Staeben also posted a fourth place finish in the 50 metre freestyle and was fifth in the 100 metre freestyle.

"I'm very pleased with the results of today," said Reds head coach Robin Ferdinand. "We made a last minute change to our schedule and they all adjusted as well as I could have asked for."

The meet was supposed to be run over Saturday and Sunday, but with a major winter storm threatening the region, organizers condensed the event.

"We focused on the second half of races, knowing that we would be tired from the long bus drive and short turnover between sessions, and it was a great training meet," said Ferdinand.

The AUS Championships run February 8-10, at Dalhousie.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Carter Hutton-HFX Collective/for Dal Athletics