Vikes and A-Group Fall Highlights

Members of the Vikes and PCS Senior Group are showing great early season progress.

Richard Bourgeois secured his ticket to the 2014 CIS Swimming Championships in Toronto qualifying in the 100-meter breaststroke at the Pacific Coast Swimming Blue Gold time trial, November 23 at Saanich Commonwealth Place.

At the Island Cup Meet a few weeks previously, Brett Zollen, having taken a year to adapt to the program made a huge step forward. Zollen finished second in the men’s 50 and 100-meter free, and 100m breaststroke, and fourth in the 100-meter butterfly. In addition, Zollen was integral to the men’s gold and bronze medal performances in the 200-meter medley relay and 200-meter free relay. Although Zollen was not able to come away with gold, he demonstrated that he could compete with CIS medalist and Vikes teammate, Keegan Zanatta.

Among other Island Cup performance highlights, Jon McKay and Amieson King posted CIS qualifying standards in the 1500-meter freestyle. McKay touched first, in a lifetime best, just ahead of King. Nicholas Sinclair also qualified touching first in the men’s 100-meter backstroke. For the women’s team, Rachael Newman posted the first CIS qualifying on the women’s team time going on to win the 100 and 200-meter butterfly events.

Other notable performances include Bourgeois, Jordan Stariha, Rosie Moulton, and Ryan Howe. Bourgeois collected gold in the 50 and 100 and silver in the 200-meter breaststroke events. Stariha touched first in the women’s 400-meter IM, as well as finishing fourth and fifth in the 50 and 100-meter breaststroke. Moulton finished second the 100-meter backstroke, third in the 200-meter freestyle, and sixth in the 200-meter butterfly. Howe touched third in the 1500-meter freestyle, ninth in the 200-meter freestyle, and tenth in the 200-meter, butterfly.

Up next for the Vikes/Seniors is their last meet of 2013, the Xmas Cracker, hosted by Pacific Coast Swimming Dec. 6-8 at Commonwealth Pool. At the meet the remaining unqualified athletes will be expected to chase the standard before putting their heads back down for some serious training over the holidays.