A dozen KISU swimmers gauged themselves against an international field during the 52nd Mel Zajac Junior International meet at UBC Aquatic Centre May 22-24.
Mel Zajac is a high-level swim competition that includes athletes who have participated in/or are vying for a spot at the Pan American Games, World Championships and future Olympians.
“This is a great mid-season meet that gives our swimmers the opportunity to be exposed to the next level of swimming. They get to stand on the blocks next to the best in Canada and sometimes even the best in the world. I’m very proud of how well they swam,” said KISU coach Tina Hoeben. “It can sometimes be intimidating being in that environment, but they all stood up and were able to put in best time performances.”
Hoeben was pleased with the size of the team they took as in previous years KISU sent between two and four swimmers.
Acacia Benn performed best times in 400 IM by 10.04 seconds, 200 IM, 50-metre back stroke and 100-m freestyle by 3.97 Seconds. Acacia also broke two KISU club records in the 200 IM and 400 IM. Reece Haberstock performed best times in 50-m fly, 100-m fly, 200-m fly, 50-, 100- and 200-m backstrokes.
Matthew Koster completed the 1,500-m freestyle with a time improvement of 12.99 seconds.
Sam Lasinski gave a strong performance in the 50 backstroke.
Jaren Lefranc had amazing performances, finishing ninth overall in the men’s 200-m breast stroke and 16th overall in the 100-m breast stroke behind Kevin Cordes (2014 U.S. champion in 100-m breast). Jaren had best times in the 400 IM by 34.43 seconds, 100-m fly by 15.47 seconds and 200-m fly by 30.86 seconds. Lefranc also broke his own KISU club record in the 100-m breaststroke.
Payton Nackoney performed best times in the 400-m free by 17.45 seconds. Wynn Nordlund completed the 1,500-m free in a time improvement of 18.60 seconds. Anna Spence performed a best time in the girls 50-m fly by 6.95 seconds.
Julie Veidt made the finals in 50-m breast stroke placing 15th overall improving her time by 1.24 seconds.
Riley Wall put together best times in the 200-m free, 50- and 200-m fly. Wall also broke a KISU club record in 200-m free belonging to Bobby Harling since 2009.
Tyler Wall performed best times in 200-m backstroke by 12.21 seconds, 200IM by 13.85 seconds and 100-m back by 7.64 seconds. Tyler also broke KISU club records in the 200IM, 50- and 100-m free. Tyler also broke Harling’s KISU club record from 2007 in the 100-m back.
Mackenzie Wallich performed best times in the 100- and 200-m back stroke, 200IM and 100-m and 400-m Free. Mackenzie also broke the 200 IM (15 & over) girls KISU Club record.