Pacific Coast had it's first meet and it was great! We had 25 swimmers with all their new t-shirts and caps on. Everyone had a great time and swam really well for the first meet of the year. We had five of our coaches come and check out the action and help to coach the swimmers at all levels. All in all it was a good experience for all the PCS swimmers who attended. We even came home with two bags of ribbons mostly blue! (the coaches favorite color). Swimmers can check the results out on the web in the next few days.

Karley Stutzel came off a tough race series at the 2002 World Open Water Swimming Championships to place 4th overall at the final FINA Open Water World Cup stop in Alexandria, Egypt. Her time of 2:14.04 was a mere 8 seconds behind the overall winner.

Dave Creel who had also just finished the 5km and 10km races at the World Championships also competed at the World Cup stop and finished his 10km race in a time of 2:04.44 good enough for eighth position overall and only 4 seconds behind 3rd place.

The 10 km World Open Water Championship race took place in Egypt yesterday and Pacific Coast swimmers David Creel and Karley Stutzel both took part and finished strong in a tough world class field. On the women's side the event was extremely close as only three one hundredths of a second separated the top two competitors. Pacific Coast Swimming's Karley Stutzel finished in 11th position in a time of 1:59.45. The women's event was won in a time of 1:56.42 by Germany's Britta Kamrau.

It was a blistering day in Egypt with temperatures over 40 degrees celsius as both Karley Stutzel and Dave Creel competed in the 5km to open the 2002 World Open Water Swimming Championships. On the women's side it was 30 year old Viola Valli from Italy who took the gold medal in a time of 56 minutes and 23 seconds. Stutzel, who is Canada's only female entrant in the World Championship's finished in 12th position in a time of 58 minutes and 44 seconds.

Two Pacific Coast Swimming athletes left early this morning for the 2002 Open Water Swimming World Championships in Egypt. Karley Stutzel was fourth in the 10km event at last years World Aquatic Championships in Japan and will be looking to move into a podium position this year. Stutzel is in her third year at the University of Victoria and is the two-time Canadian Female Long Distance Swimmer of the Year in 2000 and 2001. Stutzel will compete in the 5km and 10km events.

Sarah Sinclair has agreed to join the Pacific Coast Swimming coaching staff for the upcoming season. A former competitive swimmer with the UVic Vikes Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge to the club. She has been the head coach of the Grand Forks Piranhas summer club for the past three summer's and will be working with the Olympic Way group.

Welcome Sarah!!!

Marlena Prill has agreed to join the Pacific Coast Swimming coaching staff for the upcoming season. Marlena brings with her fourteen years of competitive swimming experience.

Welcome to Pacific Coast Swimming Marlena!!!

Tomoko Itami will be staying in Canada this year and has graciously agreed to donate her time to Pacific Coast Swimming. She will be coaching the "D" group at Saanich Commonwealth Place as well as an Olympic Way Group.

Welcome to Pacific Coast Swimming Tomoko!!!

Resumes for the Pacific Coast Swimming Coaching staff are now on line. Visit the Staff page and download resumes for Ron Jacks, Rod Barratt, Mark Lancaster, Peter Vizsolyi and Penny McCullough-Barratt. Click here to visit the staff page.

The tentative training schedule for Pacific Coast Swimming is now on line. The schedule is subject to approval by the Review Board before it becomes official.