example-image
Connect with Us:  

Atkinson Stars With Triple At Canada Cup

Nov 23, 2012

Swimmers broke four short-course meet records, a Canadian club record and even a Jamaican record on the first day of the Canada Cup at the Etobicoke Olympium in Toronto. 

Triple gold  went to Jamaican guest Alia Atkinson, representing South Florida Aquatic Club: she clocked 1:04.69 in the 100m breaststroke, third best in the world this year and a Jamaican record. She also won the 200m medley, in 2:11.71, and the 50m freestyle in 25.35.

Atkinson's previous best in the 100m breaststroke dated back to Dubai 2010 world titles, when she clocked 1:06.05in the semis. Long-course, Atkinson, 24, improved dramatically in the past year, a best of 1:08.86 in 2011 paling by comparison with the 1:06.93 she clocked in the Olympic final in London.

The UBC Dolphins set a new Canadian club record in the women’s 200-metre medley relay, as the team of Lauren Lavigna, Noemie Thomas and 2012 Olympians Martha McCabe and Heather MacLean turned in a time of 1:51.54.

McCabe, who will represent Canada at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Istanbul from Dec. 12-16 alongside Thomas and MacLean, said: "This is a really good way to get off the blocks one last time (beforeTurkey) and do some final tune-ups race-wise."

Thomas, a 16-year-old who trains at the National Swim Centre - Vancouver, .set a meet record 58.02 in the morning heats of the 100m butterfly and followed up with a 58.11 win in the final.

“She’s really good for Canadian swimming and the UBC program is really helping her rise to the top as a young swimmer. It will be reallygood to see what she can do in the future for sure,” McCabe said of Thomas.

Kelly Aspinall (UBCD/NSC - Van) set a meet mark of 23.46 in the 50m butterfly and also won the 100m back in 52.60, just 0.06sec off American Olympic star Ryan Lochte’s 2006 meet record. Aspinall also won the 100m free.

The other meet record went to Zack Chetrat, of Toronto Swim Club/University of Toronto and heading to Istanbul, in 1:55.60 in the 200m butterfly. 

In other action, Sinead Russell clocked 27.86 in the 50m backstroke and Heather MacLean took the 200m freestyle in 1:57.31. In the 800m free, Alexa Komarnycky (Island Swimming, Victoria) edged out Savannah King by 0.02sec in 8:33.08.

Results in full