Van Herk Finishes Off First Season at Guelph

Cedar Springs’ Justine Van Herk, a graduate of the Blenheim Blast swim team, recently completed her first OUA swimming season with the University of Guelph Gryphons.

Van Herk finished fourth at the OUA championships as a member of the Guelph freestyle relay team. In the women’s 100 meter backstroke, Van Herk was 11th, with a time of 1:04.50 in the final. Her Guelph team also finished 5th in the 400 meter medley, and 4th in the 200 meter medley. In the 50 meter backstroke, Van Herk placed 7th individually, with a time of 30:14.

At the Guelph Invitational held in January, Van Herk helped her Guelph team to a first place finish in the 200 meter freestyle relay, and she captured an individual first in the 50 meter butterfly. She also won the 50 meter backstroke, finishing more than 2 seconds ahead of the next closest swimmer. In the 100 meter butterfly, she finished third, while Van Herk placed second in the Women 100 meter IM.

Van Herk, who is studying Human Kinetics, will return to Guelph next season.