Canada West Championships
- November 28-30, 2025
- Lethbridge, Alberta
- SCM (25 Meters)
- Live Results
- Championship Central
On the second night of action in Lethbridge, the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds continued to grow their lead over Calgary on both the men’s and women’s sides. UBC lowered multiple Canadian West record marks in their commanding effort over the field.
Women’s Recap
Kayla Sanchez added to her weekend wins with a Canadian West record in the 50 freestyle, lowering her previous mark from 2024 of 24.28 with her dominant showing of 23.90, finishing nearly a second and a half ahead of the field.
The Dinos of Calgary took the top two spots in the 400 IM Alexanne Lepage came away with a seven-second win in 4:41.05. Sarah Haugen followed her in 4:48.54 for 2nd.
UBC’s 1-2-3-4 sweep of the 100 fly continued the momentum for the Thunderbirds. Sela Wist (1:00.00), Benya Mattig (1:00.65), Brooklyn Weins (1:00.66), and Rose Garcia (1:01.26) followed up their prelims swims that had all four finish in the fastest four times.
Bridget Burton blew away the rest of the pool in the 200 back for UBC, finishing nearly five full seconds ahead of the rest of her competition to win in 2:06.75.
Lepage later claimed the 100 breast win by over a second, finishing ahead of Eloise Allen (1:06.64) in 1:05.54.
Sanchez continued to shine in the 200 free, turning in a near seven-second win in the event, clocking 1:55.49.
UBCs 400 free relay of Sanchez (52.77), Allen (54.49), Burton (54.53), and Emma O’Cronin (54.85) combined for a near eight-second win in 3:36.54, clocking a new Canada West record.
Women’s Team Scores After Day 2
- UBC – 707.5
- Calgary – 496.5
- Victoria – 286
- Lethbridge – 223
- Manitoba – 117
- Regina – 93
Men’s Recap
Yuri Kisil mirrored the success of his UBC teammate on the women’s side, Sanchez, dominating the 50 free in record-breaking fashion. Kisil touched 1.12 seconds ahead of the field, clipping the 2017 record that he set in 21.78 to 21.50.
Aiden Kirk and Jaques Harrison led the 1-2 charge for UBC in the 400 IM. Kirk finished first, after entering finals as the 2nd seed behind Harrison in prelims, touching in 4:14.69. Harrison finished close behind in 4:15.96 as the only other sub-4:20 performer in the event.
Calgary’s Nicholas Duncan was untouchable in the 100 fly; in prelims, he was the only sub-53 performer (52.81), and in finals it was much of the same, clockingg the lone sub-52 swim in 51.93, nearly eight tenths ahead of the field.
The UBC men got back into the win column with a 1-2 finish in the 200 back; Harrison earned an individual win on the day with his 1:55.91 effort, while Raben Dommann touched in the only other sub-2:00 swim in 1:58.26.
The men’s 100 breast came down to the touch; the top two finishers were separated by just one-hundredth of a second, while there was a tie for 3rd place. UBC’s Justice Migneault came away with the win in 59.62, just barely ahead of Calgary’s Nicholas Duncan in 59.63. Ian Cameron (Calgary) and Ethan Hemeon (UBC) simultaneously touched in 59.92 for a share of 3rd.
The 200 free was also a tight contest, as Paul Hebrard of UBC finished with the top time of 1:47.92, just narrowly ahed of tammate Jake Gaunt in 1:48.15.
The Thunderbird men’s quartet of Kisil (47.80), Siu Lun Ho (48.72), Joel Blanco (48.97), and Gaunt (49.41) stormed to a new Canada West record time of 3:14.90, and an over three and a half second win in the men’s 400 free relay to close out day two.
Men’s Team Scores After Day 2
- UBC – 719.5
- Calgary – 529.5
- Victoria – 283
- Lethbridge – 192
- Manitoba – 112
- Regina – 79
I thought Sanchez was swimming for the Phillipines now.
Me too…if you love (or have an affinity for) a country you weren’t born in nor even visited enough to leave the country you swam for and even earned Olympic medals with, then I think it makes sense to live there and inspire the young swimmers you said you would.
She does go back to the Philippines to do clinics and competitions, and managed to compete for them and do school overseas like many foreign swimmers do in the NCAA.
People need to get over the fact that she made a very smart financial decision for herself.
Sad for Canada though
Wait kisil is swimming for UBC? Isn’t he in his thirties now?
Must have had his 5th year left
He never finished his undergrad initially. He has 2 years of eligibility left.
U Sports eligibility rules are wildly different than NCAA (generally way more relaxed)
Is ‘wildly different’ a synonym for ‘none at all’? lol — The greatest ever “Canadian Freshman of the Year” would definitely be: 2029 – Mr. Worldwide. I feel like this needs to happen.
He would have one year of eligibility 🤣
He’s 30 and listed as 4th year student. Maybe trying to finish degree, he started years ago.
Last year (24-25) he trained with HPC Van which is the same pool. I don’t know if he went to school last year though.
Why not?.He loves to swim and does almost only 50,s and 100,s…..and he’s still fast.