EDMONTON - The defending champion UBC Thunderbirds jumped ahead of their competition with a strong showing on Friday at Kinsmen Sport Centre, leading both the men's and women's championship standings after Day 1.

The Thunderbird men took a commanding lead thanks to nine total medals, three of which were gold. Their 242 team points puts them 83 points clear of Calgary in second place. The Victoria Vikes rounded out the top 3 with 103 points, while the host Bears sit in fourth with 95. 

UBC's Dmitriy Lim captured gold in the men's 50m butterfly with a time of 24.00 and fellow T-Bird Keir Ogilvie took the silver medal in 24.08. 



Tayden DePol won gold for the 'Birds in the men's 50m backstroke with a time of 24.67, as UBC's Matthew Crawford earned the bronze medal in the event.

The women's side is a much tighter battle atop the standings, as the T-Bird women hold a slight 173-162 lead over the Calgary Dinos. The Manitoba Bisons, thanks to gold and bronze medal from Kelsey Wog, sit in third with 133 points. 

• CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

First year T-Bird Emma O'Croinin won gold in the women's 800m freestyle (8:43.32) with teammate Rosalie Davidson earning silver in the event. 

Calgary Dino Rebecca Smith powered their championship push with a Canada West record in the women's 50m butterfly, setting a new record with a time of 25.79. 

Lethbridge Pronghorn Apollo Hess also set a new conference mark in the men's 50m breaststroke, breaking the previous record set by former Golden Bear Nick Kostiuk with a time of 26.97. 

The Thunderbirds finished atop the podium in both the women's and men's 4x200m freestyle relay as each team carries an overall lead into Saturday's action in Edmonton.

Day 2 of the CW Championship will get underway at 9:00 a.m. PST at Kinsmen with the morning heats, with the finals set to go at 4:00 p.m. 

Catch all the action live on Canada West TV presented by Co-op.
 

Men's Team Standings
1	UBC	242
2	Calgary	159
3	Victoria	103
4	Alberta	95
5	Lethbridge	94
6	Regina	59
7	Manitoba	40
8	Thompson Rivers	15

 

Women's Team Standings
1	UBC	173
2	Calgary	162
3	Manitoba	133
4	Victoria	127.5
5	Lethbridge	86.5
6	Alberta	75
7	Regina	21
8	Thompson Rivers	6