Alexander brings home gold at U SPORTS Swimming Championships

Horns Swimming competed at the 2023 U SPORTS Swimming Championships this weekend in Victoria, BC. The Pronghorns sent the largest team in program history, qualifying 14 athletes for the national competition.

On day one of the meet, second-year standout Apollo Hess earned a bronze medal in 50m breastroke with a time of 28.30 in the finals. While fellow Pronghorn breaststroker Tristan Bennett finished just outside the medals, placing fourth.

On the women's side, Delaney Lehman broke the University of Lethbridge school record with her personal best performance in the 50m freestyle, clocking in at 26.05.

Chris Alexander highlighted the Pronghorns performance with taking home gold on day two of competition in the 50m backstroke with a time 25.91. Apollo Hess was back on the podium later in the meet, capturing bronze in the 100m breastroke. Raine Arden also had another breakout performance in the A-final freestyle, finishing fourth and barely missing the podium. Delaney Lehman broke another University of Lethbridge school record later in the meet, this time in the 50m backstroke.

"I'm really happy for our women's team to get into the top eight in the relay and get seven swims into B-finals. Delaney Lehman set her first two Horns records in the 50 Free and Back," said coach, Peter Schori. 

On the final day of competition, the Pronghorns narrowly missed the podium again, as Apollo Hess finished fourth in the 200m breastroke event, and the men's 400m freestyle relay.

"We had so many great swims contribute to our best ever men's team placing. Sixth puts us in the top tier of teams in U SPORTS swimming and for the second consecutive year, we had an individual gold medalist. It was a great moment for Chris, after a very long road to the top of the podium in 50 back," said Schori.

The Pronghorns finished sixth in the overall men's team rankings and 13^th in the women's team rankings.