EDMONTON – Ingrid Wilm of Calgary’s Cascade Club kickstarted her preparations for this summer’s world championships with a victory Friday in the women’s senior 50-metre backstroke at the 2022 Speedo Western Canadian Swimming Championships.

Wilm, a star on the International Swimming League circuit last season, clocked 27.73 for the win. Katie Schroeder of Langley, B.C., was second in 29.32 and Jordan Greber of Grande Prairie, Alta., third in 29.63.

“I was a lot more confident here than at trials,” said Wilm. “I took the week off after world trials to reset and I think that little bit of rest helped me more so that’s good to know for future events.”

Wilm went under the FINA A standard at the Olympic Trials last summer in the 100 backstroke but ranked third behind stars Kylie Masse and Taylor Ruck and didn’t go to Tokyo.

“I didn’t expect to make the world team this year, so I came to this event as a building block to get me started for the next three weeks of hard training.”

Other winners in women’s senior were Kamryn Cannings of the University of Calgary in the 100-m freestyle (56.47) and 50-m butterfly (27.45), Alicia L’Archevêque of Calgary in the 100-m breaststroke (1:11.45) and Emma Finlin of Edmonton in the 400-m individual medley (4:53.25).

In men’s senior, Ian Cameron of the Olympian Swim Club in Edmonton was the winner in the 100-m breaststroke in 1:04.71. Carson Beggs of the University of Manitoba was second in 1:05.07 and Jett Verjee of Calgary third in 1:05.19.

“Happy to get the win but was hoping for a faster time,” said Cameron, 18. “I knew the race would be close and I probably got a little rushed near the end and didn’t finish smoothly.”

Other winners in men’s senior were Joel Blanco of Maple Ridge, B.C., in the 100-m freestyle (52.33), Aiden Norman of Calgary in the 50 back (27.15), Kier Przyswitt of Edmonton in the 50-m butterfly (25.15).

Winners in women’s youth were Maxine Clark of Calgary in the 100 freestyle (56.92), Halle West of Winnipeg in the 100 breast (1:13.87) and Mia West in the 400 IM (4:57.60).

Winners in men’s youth were Paul Dardis of Calgary’s Killarney Swim Club., in the 100 free (50.76), Hayden Visscher of Edmonton in the 100 breast (1:05.17) and Lorne Wigginton of Calgary with his fourth gold of the competition in the 400 IM (4:28.19).

The Surrey Knights and Edmonton Keyano swim clubs won the men’s and women’s 4X200-m freestyle relays.

Almost 500 athletes from 60 clubs are here this week at the meet which runs through to Sunday at the Kinsmen Sports Centre.

For more information: 2022 Speedo Western Championships – Swimming Canada