The four day event sanctioned by Swimming Canada closed Sunday evening at the UBC Aquatic Centre on the UBC campus brining to a conclusion some great race featuring present Olympic Athletes in which 452 swimmers competed.
The 51st Mel Zajac Jr. International event hosted swimmers from youth to senior club members some of which are the best up and comers as well as Olympic team members looking the secure their spots for the next summer games.
As well there was over 100 Coaches and Technical staff in attendance as well as many parents who travelled to watch the competitors in this fun filled weekend over the four days.
The competitors put on a great show with some records set in competition including one from Ryan Cochrane of Canada a past Olympic champion.
In addition the event saw Missy Franklin from the USA take time out of her schedule to be actively involved by talk to the young swimmers whose dream it is to make the team Canada.
Another swimmer from the US and Missy Franklin was California’s Cal Berkley Bears, who also spent time speaking with swimmers on the path to Olympic and international success.
The events was spread out over four days of preliminary races and heats beginning Thursday with races in the Women and Men 50 LC Butterfly Breaststroke events.
Other events featured the 1500 and 800 races won by Canada’s Ryan Cochrane and Missy Franklin of Cal Berkley.
Friday saw the races begin at 8:30 with the preliminaries in the 50 butterfly swim off for Men and Women and other races during the morning was the 200 Backstroke, 100 Breaststroke, 200 and the 400 IM.
The results would determine the evening finalists in all the fields where champions would crowned.
Friday evening the same format as the finals in all categories raced as well Ryan Cochrane received his award for winning the 1500 meters race and Missy Franklin for her 800 win.Saturday the events that took place were the Men’s 50 Breaststroke swim off to be followed by the 100 Butterfly, 400 Freestyle, 200 IM, 50 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke.
The days events concluded with the 800 Freestyle Relay, 100 IM Butterfly, 400 Freestyle.
Women also in the 200 IM and finishing off the day with the 50 Freestyle for the Men and the 200 Women’s Breaststroke.
The swimming included a great race between Brittney MacLean (Canada) and Missy Franklin (United States) in a close finish and the 800 Women’s Freestyle relay was also held in the evening.
The event concluded Sunday with races in the 100 Backstroke and Freestyle, 50 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly and the 400 Medley Relay.
Top swimmers for the Men was Ryan Cochrane and Missy Franklin getting the top prize money of $500.00 each.
In addition the teams recognized and the youngest swimmer to complete with the event coming to and end for the evening.
Congrats to all the volunteers who made things run well as they are the core of an event like this holds it together and the moms in the hospitality room that provided the meals for all the Officials, Media, Coaches and Athletes.
A job well done we all thank you and we “Thank You”.
About Sportswave
Sportswave Productions is located in Delta, BC.
Sportswave promotes/broadcasts Amateur Sports within the Lower Mainland.
Sportswave Productions is owned and operated by Steve Erickson who has a long standing career within the broadcasting and refereeing for Minor League Sports in BC and across Canada.
Steve is recognized by his peers, associations, communities and colleagues for his endless contributions to multiple Amateur Sports within the Lower Mainland.
Steve was recognized as Volunteer of the Year Award by the Delta Chamber of Commerce in 2015 and inducted into the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.
He was recognized by Ravi Kahlon, BC’s MLA Minister for Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation in September 11, 2017.
In December 2022 he was Awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Pin.
Awarded Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award for tangible for significant assistant given for the better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.
SportsWave offers services that extend from sports articles, to interviews with on location webcasts on https://sportswavetv.yaretv.com/
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