ISA's Julia Wilkinson & Stefan Hirniak qualify for Pan Pacs

Julia Wilkinson pounces on first chance for Pan Pacs spot at Summer Nationals

July, 29, 2010 from Swimming Canada

VICTORIA – Julia Wilkinson of Stratford, Ont., didn’t waste any time in assuring herself a spot on the Canadian team for next month’s Pan Pacific Championships winning the women’s 200-metre freestyle Wednesday at the 2010 Summer Nationals Championships swimming competition.

At the first qualifying meet for the Pan Pacs this past April, Wilkinson was unable to compete due to a bad flu and the 2008 Olympian was down to her final opportunities at this week’s meet and grabbed it in her first race.

“I’m pretty excited about tonight’s swim, it’s my best time in quite awhile,” said Wilkinson, who moved to train in Victoria this year with coach Randy Bennett. “It’s been a long hard road back since my shoulder injury (last fall) and Randy has brought a new outlook to my training and we’ve been able to overhaul my freestyle.”

Wilkinson took the gold in 1:58.95 with Barbara Jardin of Montreal second in 1:59.13 and Samantha Cheverton of Pointe-Claire, Que., third in 1:59.49.

In the women’s 200 butterfly, Audrey Lacroix of Montreal posted the win in 2:09.89, MacKenzie Downing of Victoria followed in 2:10.10 and Katerine Savard of Quebec City was third in 2:10.80. Downing went under the qualifying standard with her time to grab the second available spot in the event. Lacroix gained the first spot in April.

“This is a race that gives me a lot of confidence,” said Downing, originally from Whitehorse. “I’ve felt a lot pressure because the past couple of years didn’t go well for me. This year I’ve been training really hard and I really wanted to make this team. Now the focus can be on just swimming fast.”

Stefan Hirniak of Victoria also bounced back from a subpar first trials to gain a spot on the Pan Pac team in the men`s 200 butterfly winning Wednesday’s race in 1:59.80. Jordan Hartney of Vancouver was second in 2:00.53 and Zack Chetrat of Oakville third in 2:01.32.

“It was a tough swim and that last 50 I was a little tired,” said Hirniak. “I’ve had a great period of training leading up to this event and I feel this is a stepping stone towards a strong performance at the Pan Pacs.”

In the men’s 50 butterfly, Philippe Bastien, who has only been swimming for four years won the bronze medal for the first ever national championship medal for the TNT Club in St-Lambert, Que. Bastien, 20, clocked 25.20. Kelly Aspinall of Vancouver took the gold in 24.43 and Joe Bartoch of London, Ont., was second in 24.80.

Other winners in men’s competition were Brent Hayden of Vancouver in the 100 freestyle, Jake Tapp of Langley, B.C., in the 100 backstroke and Kier Maitland of Edmonton in the 1,500 freestyle. On the women’s side the other victors were Victoria Poon of Montreal in the 50 butterfly, Sinead Russell of Oakville in the 100 backstroke and Savannah King of Vancouver in the 800 freestyle.

Competition continues Thursday at Saanich Commonwealth Place. Preliminaries are at 9 a.m. (local) and finals at 6 p.m.

MEN

50 butterfly: 1. Kelly Aspinall, Vancouver, 24.43; 2. Joe Bartoch, London, Ont., 24.80; 3. Philippe Bastien, St-Lambert, Que., 25.20.

100 backstroke : 1. Jake Tapp, Langley, B.C., 55.13; 2. Tobias Oriwol, Toronto, 55.25; 3. Matt Hawes, Ottawa, 55.97.

200 butterfly: 1. Stefan Hirniak, Victoria, 1:59.80; 2. Jordan Hartney, Vancouver, 2:00.53; 3. Zack Chetrat, Oakville, Ont., 2 :01.32.

200 freestyle : 1. Brent Hayden, Vancouver, 1:49.13; 2. Brian Johns, Vancouver, 1:49.38; 3. Blake Worsley, Victoria, 1:49.72.

1,500 freestyle : 1. Kier Maitland, Edmonton, 15 :22.54; 2. Sean Penhale, Victoria, 15:30.16; 3. Craig Dagnall, Victoria, 15:38.21.

WOMEN

50 butterfly: 1. Victoria Poon, Montreal, 27.21; 2. Caroline Kuczynski, Pointe-Claire, Que., 27.29; 3. Sandrine Mainville, Boucherville, Que., 27.43.

100 backstroke : 1. Sinead Russell, Oakville, Ont., 1:01.05; 2. Katy Murdoch, Calgary, 1:01.46; 3. Brittany MacLean, Etobicoke, Ont., 1:02.29.

200 butterfly: 1. Audrey Lacroix, Montreal, 2:09.89; 2. Mackenzie Downing, Victoria, 2:10.10; 3. Katerine Savard, Quebec City, 2:10.80.

200 freestyle : 1. Julia Wilkinson, Victoria, 1 :58.95; 2. Barbara Jardin, Montreal, 1:59.13; 3. Samantha Cheverton, Pointe-Claire, Que., 1:59.49.

800 freestyle: 1. Savannah King, Vancouver, 8:36.21; 2. Lindsay Seeman, Newmarket, Ont., 8:36.78; 3. Brittany MacLean, Etobicoke, Ont., 8:49.96.