Winnipeg — On the first night of the 2018 Canadian Junior Championships, local girl Sarah Watson of the University of Manitoba Bisons took home gold in the women’s 15 to 17 100-metre butterfly at a personal best time of 1:00.72.

By Liam Harrap

“I didn’t have the race I wanted at Trials, so to come back this week and in my hometown and give my best shot was what I hoped for,” said Watson.

She was named to the Junior Pan Pacific Championships team last week at the Canadian Swimming Trials. The 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Championships will take place in August in Fiji.

“I’m just going to get back in the gym and pool and train my hardest to show Canada what the juniors can do,” said Watson in response to how she’ll train for the Championships.

In another exciting finish, Joshua Liendo from North York Aquatic Club won the men’s 14 -15 100-metre butterfly in a time of 53.97.

“I think I had a pretty good break out. I was just working on getting my stroke longer,” said Liendo.

Liendo will also be going to the Junior Pan Pacific Championships.

Emma O’Croinin from the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club had a terrific and impressive night. First, she won the women’s 15 to 17 800-metre freestyle at a personal best time of 8:45.49.

“I wasn’t expecting that time, so I was really happy with that outcome,” said O’Croinin.

Soon after the 800-metre freestyle, O’Croinin competed in the 200-metre backstroke and came seventh.  “It hurt a little more than the 800 metre,” said O’Croinin with a chuckle.  “It’s always fun to race here and race some really fast people and really good competition,” said O’Croinin.  She also took part in the mixed 13-18 freestyle relay. Her team, the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club came third at 3:41.38. The winning team from the Etobicoke Swim Club had a time of 3:39.83.

In a strong finish, Sebastian Somerset of the Cascade Swim Club, won the men’s 16 to 18 200-metre backstroke at 2:03.09.

“It wasn’t the time I was looking for, but the type of race was good,” said Somerset. Richie Stokes of Etobicoke Swim Club came second at 2:04.88.

Somerset will also be going to the Junior Pan Pacific Championships.

“I’ll train hard,” said Somerset in response to how he will train for that competition.

Catherine Minic of the Grande Prairie Piranhas Swim Club managed to win the girl’s 13 to 14 100 metre butterfly at 1:02.70. Second place, Breckin Gormley was right behind her at 1:02.99.

Regan Rathwell won the girl’s 13 to 14 backstroke finals at 2:17.47.

The RBC Canadian Junior Championships continue through to Sunday at the Winnipeg Pan Am Pool and is being webcast at http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1283610691832.

For full results from the competition: https://results.swimming.ca/2018_Canadian_Junior_Championships/.

Here is a complete list of medal winners from tonight’s action.

Girls 800-m freestyle

* 13-14

o Gold: Katrina Bellio, ESWIM

o Silver: Gabrielle Dunn, TRIT

o Bronze: Kyla Gage, PCSC

* 15-17

o Gold: Emma O’Croinin, EKSC

o Silver: Brooke Switzer, MAC

o Bronze: Chantel Jeffrey, ISC

Boys 800-m freestyle

* 14-16

o Gold: Alexander Axon, MAC

o Silver: Eric Brown, PCSC

o Bronze: Ian Friesen, CW

* 17-18

o Gold: Raben Dommann, CHENA

o Silver: Alexander Katelnikoff, CASC

o Bronze: Félix David, CAMO

Girls 100-m butterfly

* 13-14

o Gold: Catherine Minic, GPP

o Silver: Breckin Gormley, CPWD

o Bronze: Abby McKinley, TIDE

* 15-17

o Gold: Sarah Watson, UMAN

o Silver: Caroline Carruthers, ESWIM

o Bronze: Hanna Henderson, ESWIM

Boys 100-m butterfly

* 14-16

o Gold: Joshua Liendo, NYAC

o Silver: Cole Pratt, CASC

o Bronze: Keir Ogilvie, UVPCS

* 17-18

o Gold: Guillermo Cruz Zuniga, CAMO

o Silver: Sterlyng Blair, TRIT

o Bronze: Nick Fauteux, MSSAC

Girls 200-m backstroke

* 13-14

o Gold: Regan Rathwell, GO

o Silver: Ella Varga, CASC

o Bronze: Ashley McMillan, KISU

* 15-17

o Gold: Shannon Meadway, USC

o Silver: Haley Klenk, SPART

o Bronze: Xiaoran Mao, ESWIM

Boys 200-m backstroke

* 14-16

o Gold: Hugh McNeill, LOSC

o Silver: Mathieu Cyr, CASC

o Bronze: Russell Burton, GMAC

* 17-18

o Gold: Sebastian Somerset, CASC

o Silver: Richie Stokes, ESWIM

o Bronze: Sho Neilson, CASC

Open 4×100-m mixed freestyle relay

* Gold: Etobicoke Swim Club

o Riley Lowan

o Justin Konik

o Xiaoran Mao

o Hanna Henderson

* Silver: University of Calgary Swim Club

o Paul Latkovic

o Charles Wang

o Elizabeth Ling

o Hannah Bennett

* Bronze: Edmonton Keyano Swim Club

o Destin Chan

o Christey Liang

o Emma O’Croinin

o Kier Przyswitt