Truro swimmer to compete at national junior championships

TRURO, N.S. – Madison Bond of the Truro Centurions will head to the Canadian junior swim championships riding a huge wave of momentum.

The 13-year-old from Truro will compete at the national competition July 25 to 30 in Winnipeg after achieving great success in the pool at the recent Ken Dunn Nova Scotia swim championships at Dalplex in Halifax.

Bond repeated as the overall points leader for the meet in the 13 and under female division and raced to gold medals in the 200m, 400m IM and 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke events. She also won silver in the 200m butterfly and was seventh in the 1,000m open-water freestyle race at Long Lake. Bond turned in personal-best results in all events.

Meanwhile, Truro’s Dean Sansgter – competing in the 16 and over division – nabbed silver in the 100m backstroke, bronze in the 50m backstroke, was fourth in the 200m backstroke, fifth in the 50m freestyle, third in 100m butterfly B final and was first in the 100m freestyle B final. Sangster will represent Canada at the world lifesaving championship in Australia in November.

Amy Barnhill brought home bronze medals in the 200m butterfly and the 5km open swim in the 14 and 15 year old category, while Julianne Dowe – competing in the 13 and under category – finished sixth in the 200m breaststroke, seventh in the 100m breaststroke, sixth in the 50m breaststroke and fifth in the 50m backstroke.

Matthew Hunter also raced to silver in the 50m butterfly PARA and earned bronze in the mixed 50m freestyle and backstroke PARA finals. Hunter is preparing for the Down Syndrome world championships July 20 to 26 in Truro.

Other Centurions results from the provincial championships follow:

Katie Archibald (16 and over) – 4^th, 50m breaststroke final; 8^th, 100m breaststroke final; 2^nd, 200m breaststroke B final in the 16 year and over category.

Zander Smith (14 and 15) – 7^th, 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke B finals.

Haley Puddester (13 and under) – 7^th, 200m butterfly B final; 5^th, 800m freestyle final.

Relay team of Haley Puddester, Grace Baini, Julianne Dowe and Madison Bond – (13 and under) – 5^th 400m free; 4^th 400m medley

Relay team of Olivia Langley, Amy Barnhill, Julianne Dowe and Madison Bond (14-15) – 4th 400m medley relay.