Blake Kingston shines with record-breaking performances at AUS swimming championships
Author: UNB Engineering
Posted on May 17, 2024
Category: , Student Spotlight
Blake Kingston, a fourth-year student in Electrical Engineering at UNB, recently made waves at the AUS Swimming Championships, where he set a record, winning two gold medals and one silver.
The event, held from Feb.23 to 25, 2024, saw Blake excel in the 100 m breaststroke, earning him a spot in the U Sports Swimming Championships in Montreal in March 2024.
With over 11 years of competitive swimming experience under his belt, Blake says balancing studying Engineering and being committed to sports is not easy, but he is thankful to have the support and guidance of his teammates, many of whom are also engineering students.
"Learning from people that are older than me on the team about study habits and how to prioritize really helped in my first year," he shares.
"Interacting with all of them forms a good support system and helps all of us balance academics and swimming at the same time."
Blake's achievements extend beyond this year's championships. He reflects on his previous win in the 200 m breaststroke and his recent victories in the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events.
"This is my first year qualifying for U Sports. It was a big deal for me, I had to make sure I had the time standard in the events, and I was really proud of myself when I ended up meeting that time standard.” he notes.
Blake's time standard was 1:02.67 and he surpassed it with a time of 1:01.75.
Participating in the U Sports Championships was a milestone for Blake. "The competition outside of Atlantic Canada is much different and it was truly eye-opening," he remarks.
Despite finishing 16th in the 100-metre breaststroke, Blake's performance was commendable, setting a new AUS record with a time of 1:01.53 in the morning swim.
In the finals, his time was 1:05.96, just 0.4 seconds off the Olympic trial's standard.
Looking ahead, Blake remains focused on his goals. "Going to nationals was a goal I always had in mind. Now after experiencing it, I want to return and do my best to compete and place well against the top competition from all of the top schools in Canada."
Blake's journey exemplifies dedication, resilience, and the ability to excel both in academics and athletics - a true testament to the spirit of UNB Engineering and the determination of its students.