David Bakken - Field Reporter

From February 26 to the 29th, Port Alberni played host to the B.C. Winter games. Zone 6, the Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast zone, had 5 UV-PCS Swimmers attend the games as zone 6 swimmer representatives. Along with other Vancouver Island swimmers, Jovanna Ruffolo, Ashkaughn Forghani, David Vizsolyi, Craig Dagnall and Brian Macarthur made the trip to the Alberni Valley to compete in the games.

UVPCS swimmer Alyssa Bakken broke her first Provincial Record last weekend in Vancouver at the Western Canadian Championships. The 11 year old, who qualified to attend Westerns during January’s Vancouver Island Regional Championships, and was the youngest swimmer at the meet, broke the 11-12 Girls’ Provincial short-course Backstroke record with a time of 2:25.66. Somehow, we don’t think it will be her last. Alyssa just turned 11 in November and has almost two more years in the 11-12 age group to see what she can do! Congratulations, Alyssa!!

David Bakken - Field Reporter

UV-PCS returned from the 2004 Provincials with some great swims posted, and once again we placed among the top five teams in the province.

Ottawa, Ontario

As of January 1, 2004, the new World Anti Doping Code has been adopted and is being firmly adhered to by FINA. In order for international and national level swimmers to be compliant with this new code, the following steps must be taken.

National Level Swimmer - Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

UVic Releases

Day one of the 2004 CIS Swimming Championships at the University of Toronto saw first year swimmer Stephanie Dixon add another World Record to her resume, breaking her own mark in the 400 IM. Swimming in front of her family and friends in her home town of Toronto, Dixon swam to a personal best time of 5:32.38 breaking her own world record time by four seconds.

The 2004 Canada West Swimming Championships saw UVic walk away with 4 medals on day one.

Leading the way was fourth year swimmer Karley Stutzel, who won the gold medal in the women's 800m freestyle in a new Canada West record time of 8:41.24. Vike Danielle Bell took the bronze coming home in a time of 8:55.74.

Dave Creel opened up the championships by winning the silver medal in the men's 1500m freestyle event. Creel touched the final wall in a time of 15:46.43 to finish three seconds behind the University of Calgary 's Richard Cormack.

by Rich Cole

UVic swimmer Stephanie Dixon shocked the crowded Commonwealth Place last weekend as she broke two World Records. The University of Victoria athlete smashed the 200 and 400 meter Individual Medley disabled world marks.

"I had some unbelievable swims," said Dixon recalling her races at the Vancouver Island Regional Championships meet. "Moments like this confirm that I've made the right decision of coming to train with UVic and PCS."

The labour dispute at BC Ferries impacted the attendance at the UV-PCSA Christmas Cracker, however the lone Vancouver based team to attend spoke loudly.

After taking a passenger only ferry to Nanaimo and then bussing to Victoria, the UBC Dolphin Swim Club shattered two 12 and Under Male Canadian Relay records. Andrew Conroy, Marko Gavric, Hong-Kei Chan, Hong-Ting Chan took a whopping 9 seconds off the Canadian 4x100 Medley Relay and also set a new Canadian standard in the 4x50 Medley relay. The UBC Dolphins 13-14 Woman's 4x100 Medal Team also set a new Provincial standard.

Over 350 swimmers from Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland and Alberta will compete in the University of Victoria Pacific Coast Swimming Association's Christmas Cracker 12-14. Competing will be many of Pacific Coast Swimming's Age Group stars as well as the full senior squad of university and high school athletes.

UV-PCSA athletes and coaches were honoured at the inaugural Canadian Swimming Awards Banquet held in Quebec City. Ron Jacks, UV-PCSA Director of Swimming, was recognized as the Open Water Coach of the Year. Joining him on the platform was Karley Stutzel who picked up the Open Water Swimmer of the Year award. Also getting in on the awards was Stephanie Dixon, who was honoured with the Female SWAD swimmer of the Year trophy.