LEEDS England – Canada broke the world record in both the men’s and women’s 4X100 medley relays on Sunday to conclude the British Grand Prix swimming competition.  Overall this week Canadian swimmers broke four world records and set seven Commonwealth marks.

 

In the women’s 4X100 medley relay, Canada clocked three minutes and 49.45 seconds to break the world record of 3:51.36 set by the U.S., last year.  Swimming for Canada was Katie Murdoch of Calgary, Audrey Lacroix of Montreal, Annamay Pierse of Vancouver and Victoria Poon of Montreal.

 

“It was awesome,” said Murdoch.  “We were really motivated because all four of us had broken Canadian records this week.  It was an honour to be on that relay.”

 

With Sunday’s mark, Pierse has put her name on three world records in 2009.  She broke the 200 breaststroke short course record twice including once here on Friday and the long course 200 breaststroke two weeks ago at the world championships in Rome. 

 

“I think Canadian swimmers have realized this year that we have what it takes to break world records and to be at the top of the world,” said Pierse. “We were confident tonight that the world record was a realistic goal.  We’ve had such a great year.  But for it to be a reality is pretty amazing.”

 

In the men’s 4X100 medley relay, Jake Tapp of Langley, B.C., Joe Bartoch of London, Ont., Paul Kornfeld of Calgary and Brent Hayden of Vancouver finished in 3:23.33 to eclipse the world record of 3:24.29 set by Russia last year.  It is the second Canadian world record for a men’s relay this week.  The 4X200 freestyle standard was beaten on Friday.

 

``It’s incredible,’’ said Kornfeld.  ‘’It was great to have my teammates with me and the whole team supporting us.  It was a great accomplishment. We were so happy to pull it off.’’

 

Hayden said the team wanted to go out with a bang.

 

“This was the last race of the entire season and we wanted to put in a good one,” said Hayden. “We gave it everything we had.  These records show we are moving in the right direction. We know what it takes if we want to compete on the world stage.”

 

The Canadian record book received a serious rewrite this week as national marks were lowered 30 times. In addition to the two world records, seven other national marks were lowered Sunday.

 

Murdoch beat her national short course mark twice in the women’s 200 backstroke lowering the standard to 2:03.31 for the silver medal.  Dominique Bouchard of North Bay, Ont., was third.

 

Poon won gold in the 50 freestyle lowering her record to 24.24.  Jennifer Beckberger of Ajax, Ont., was second.

 

Tapp clocked 50.60 in the opening backstroke leg of the men’s medley relay which bettered his national record set Saturday.

 

Kornfeld broke a seven-year-old mark in the 200 breaststroke clocking 2:03.26 for the win.  It was also a Commonwealth record.  Kornfeld beat all three breaststroke marks this week.  Sean Nugent of Burnaby, B.C., was third.  ‘’My goal tonight was the world record and I was only three-tenths off,’’ said Kornfeld.  ‘’I made some big steps and still need to improve more.’’

 

Geneviève Saumur of Montreal lowered the women’s 200 freestyle standard to 1:54.23 for the gold and a Canadian sweep.  Heather MacLean of Etobicoke, Ont., was second and Alexandra Gabor of Whitehorse third.

 

Tanya Hunks of Vancouver broke her Canadian record in the 400 individual medley for silver clocking 4:29.22.

 

In the prelims, Hayden broke his national record in the 200 freestyle clocking 1:41.77.

 

 

Nicholas Murray of Quebec City and Matt Hawes of Vancouver were 1-2 in the men’s 100 individual medley; Thomas Kindler of Montreal and Joe Bartoch of London, Ont., were second and third in the men’s 50 butterfly and Blake Worsley of Victoria was second in the 200 freestyle final.