At the aptly-named “2018 McDonald’s Canadian Record Challenge” this weekend in Owen Sound, Ontario, the 13-14 boys of the Guelph Marlin Aquatic Club (GMAC) broke a pair of Canadian Age Records. The group now holds 3 13-14 records in total, two years after the same group broke all 10 of the Canadian National Age Group relay records for 11-12s.
The team of Thomas McDonald, Colin Campbell, Marcus Beckstead-Holman, William Beckstead-Holman, and Russell Burton combined this past weekend to break the 400 short course meters medley relay and 400 short course meters free relay records in short course meters.
The group’s coach Kendra Papple lauded the work effort and high aspirations of the group. “GMAC’s senior group really do a great job making hard work fun and fast swimming a daily occurrence. The boys are not afraid to set lofty goals or work towards them. We have a large group of people who contribute to the boys’ relay records.’
In the 400 medley relay, they swam a 3:57.42. The old record of 3:59.48 was set by the Etobicoke swim Club in 2015. GMAC’s splits:
- Backstroke: Marcus Beckstead-Holman, 1:00.66
- Breaststroke: Russell Burton, 1:04.64
- Butterfly: Thomas McDonald, 57.93
- Freestyle: Colin Campbell, 54.19
In the 400 free relay, the group combined for a 3:38.06, which broke the old record of 3:38.99 set by age groupers from the University of Calgary Swim Club in 2005. The GMAC splits in the 400 free relay:
- Thomas McDonald – 55.05
- William Beckstead-Holman – 54.54
- Russell Burton – 53.98
- Colin Campbell – 54.49
Each record-setting swim at the meet earned $1,000 in prize money to be divided among the participating swimmers.
ARE these scm?
Yes
Great going!
Great swims by all 4 of these guys. If they want to swim in college in the U.S. they can’t accept prize money.