Mel Zajac Invitational

News from Mel Zajac..

The Mel Zajac Jr Invitational has been going for a long time. In spite of a few years in decline the new pool has revitalized the event and attracted the Canada Games teams from all four western provinces as well as three of Canada's national teams(Senior men, World Junior team and National Junior relay teams) and nmerous U.S. Teams. 

As part of both the BC Canada Games team staff and as a visiting coach with the National Jr relay team I observed a ton of hard work and team energy coming together. The Juniors spent 10 days in the camp and competition at UBC and worked hard coming into the meet. They swam 11 workout sessions together as well as classroom sessions, homework sessions, dry Alan and yoga sessions...and then they competed!

Like the Juniors, the Canada Games athletes were housed in UBC student dorms and walked to dining and competition venues, covering between 10 and 13 Kms per day.

In spite of all that the attitudes displayed were super positive, and the performances did not show the level of fatigue and discomfort the athletes experienced together as they fought to compete with top US and Canadian competitors. The full experience showed off a gutsy, determined bunch of young people who believe in attaining top academic and athletic performance...in spite of the physical and mental challenges incurred, not in absence of.

I was proud to be part of both groups. Thanks to all involved.

Our PCS swimmers on the team, Michael Schmidt, Keir Ogilvie, Sophie Lorette, Hana Edwards and Jessica Luo represented themselves very well in the pool and on the teams. 

Also at the competition from PCS were Jon McKay, Sophie Tarrant, Jordan and Kelsey Andrusak and Erin Lawrance. All reached final positions in multiple events and most had personal bests in the process (see details below). Well done to each of you.

Day One:

200 Back: 
 Jordan PB at 2:23 finished 27th.  
 Hana Edwards 16th in 2:20.

100Br: 
 Sophie Tarrant 7th at 1:12.5, new PB and 15-17 club record.

200Fr: 
 Kelsey Andrusak PB in 2:09.
 Jessica Luo 2:06 for 21st
 Jon McKay 17th in 1:57

400IM: 
 Sophie Tarrant 5:04 for 17th 
 Erin Lawrance 5:09 for 26th

50 BF: 
 Kelsey Andrusak PB in 29.7

1500 Fr
 Sophie Lorette 4th 17:36

800 Fr
 Jon McKay 3rd in 8:20

Day Two

100 Fly:
  Kelsey Andrusak 1:05 for 28th and a PB. 
  Jessica Luo 1:04 for 19th.
  Keir Ogilvie 25th in 58.7 setting a new 13-14 club and VIR regional record.

400Free:
 Erin Lawrance 29 in 4:35
 Jon McKay 6th in 4:02

50 Back:
 Jordan Andrusak 24th in 31.4

200 IM 
 Jordan Andrusak 7th in 2:19 - a PB and cracked her own senior club record from
two years ago.
 Sophie Tarrant recorded a PB in 2:23.0 for 16th.

50Free:
 Jessica Luo struck PB territory in 27.0 and marked her first senior national qualifying time in that event. 

Events wrap up tomorrow.