Branton sets three OUA records at swim meet

Port Lambton’s Shona Branton had a showcase performance at the 2024 OUA Swimming Championship this weekend in St. Catharines.

Branton not only won gold in her three individual events, she also broke the OUA record in all three as well.

“It felt great! Especially in the 200 breaststroke, it’s been a race I struggled with a lot mentally for a few years so to be able to not only win but also get the OUA record really meant a lot,” said Branton “It motivates me a lot as I wasn’t rested for the meet, so I’m hoping to be more prepared for U SPORTS nationals and give it my best!”

On day 1 of the event she took gold in the 100m breaststroke with a record time of 1:05:86, on day 2 she topped the podium in the 200m breaststroke with an OUA record time of 2:26.56 and followed that up on day 3 shattering the previous record of 31.26 in the women’s 50m breaststroke set in 2018 by McMaster’s Olivvya Chow. Branton completed the preliminaries in a time of 30.71 and eventually broke the record again in the finals with a time of 30.44 for her third win in three consecutive seasons in the event.

Branton would also add a gold medal with the Women’s 4x50m Medley Relay team and a silver with the Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay.

Branton’s dominating performance helped the Western women’s swim team finish second overall in the team standings.