At the VIR Championships in Comox last weekend Pacific Coast Swimming placed second overall in the team scoring with 3,024 points. With a team just over half the size of the winning team 27 athletes swam hard throughout the weekend. When the team size was taken in to account PCS actually came out on top with the average point score per swimmer being 112.

The University of Victoria Vikes finished the 2003 Canada West Championships this past weekend with a total of 10 medals, four of them gold. The small team from Uvic found themselves up against some tough competition during the three day event as the Canada West schools once again showed why they are the best swimming conference in the country.

Fourth Year Vikes swimmer Philip Weiss added another Canada West gold medal to his collection on Day 2 at the Swimming Championships in Calgary. Weiss, two-time UVic Athlete of the Year, won the men's 100 metre butterfly event in a personal best time of 55.14. This is Weiss' first year back in the pool after a break from the sport for two years. Jesse Jacks won his third medal of the weekend picking up the bronze in a time of 55.23.

On day one of the 2003 Canada West Swimming Championships the Vikes walked away with three medals.

Leading the way was third year swimmer David Creel who won the gold medal in the mens 1500 freestyle in time of 15:38.48. Creel pulled away from two UofC swimmers over the back half of the race to claim the CW title.

Following Creel's inspirational swim was Jesse Jacks in the mens 50 metre butterfly. Jacks won the gold with a great second 25 in a time of 25.16. Watch for Jacks in the 100 and 200 butterfly later in the weekend.

Pacific Coast Swimming will be offering an IM turn camp on January 26, 2003 from 8:00am to 11:00am at UVic McKinnon Pool.

This camp will emphasis all the turns in an Individual Medley. With a minimum of five coaches on hand and numerous Senior National and International swimmers assisting, there will be a very low athlete to coach ratio. Video taping will take place and verbal feedback will be provided.

This camp is open to all swimmers who wish to improve the speed and efficiency of their IM.

The inaugural PCS Christmas Cracker swim meet went off without a hitch over the weekend. Teams from the Island as well as the Lower Mainland region took part in the meet. Special thanks to all volunteers who helped out and made the event such a success.

From Swimming Canada

MINNEAPOLIS - Audrey Lacroix of Montreal earned her second gold medal in two days while John Stamhuis of Victoria posted his first career international victory Saturday to conclude the U.S. Open swimming championships.

Silver medals were also won by Mike Mintenko of Vancouver in the 100 freestyle and Rick Say of Calgary in the 1,500 freestyle. Canadian swimmers ended the three-day meet with eight gold, five silver and four bronze.

Minneapolis, Minnesota - PCS swimmer John Stamhuis won his first international gold medal at the 2002 US Open. John led the race from the start to pick up the gold medal in a time of 2:18.12. Stamhuis led a Canadian sweep of the event as his Pan Pacific Games teammates Mike Brown and Chad Thomsen joined him on the podium. Way to go John!!!

In other events on the final day of competition Christin Petelski was 6th in the women's 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:34.75 and Jesse Jacks was 4th in the 200 butterfly in 2:04.26.

Minneapolis, Minnesota - PCS swimmer and Canadian National Team Veteran Christin Petelski placed 6th in the women's 100 breaststroke on the first day of competition at the 2002 U.S. Open Championships. Petelski posted a time of 1:12.28 and was the top Canadian in the event. Competition continues through Saturday.

For full results please visit U.S. Swim

The Pacific Coast Swimming Parents and Swimming Association is pleased to host the following officials clinics. (Click on the link below to download the information in PDF format)

Timers Clinic - Thursday December 12th
Clerk of Course Clinic - Friday December 13th