Vikes Alumnus Punches Ticket to Pan Pacs

Vikes Alumnus and Pacific Coast Swimming standout MacKenzie Downing came second in the 200m Fly event at the Summer National Championships on Wednesday evening. Her time of 2:10.10 qualified her for Canada's squad competing at the Pan Pacific trials in Irving, California next month.

Downing led after the first 100m with a 1.01 second lead but down the stretch fellow Canadian Audrey Lacroix pulled ahead to clock in at 2:09.89.

"This is a race that gives me a lot of confidence," Downing said after the final. "I've felt a lot of pressure because the past couple of years didn't go well for me. This year I've been training really hard and really wanted to make this team. Now the focus can be on just swimming fast."

Downing's former UVic and Pacific Coast Swimming Coach Peter Vizsolyi was equally as pleased with her race.

"She has had her fair share of injuries and disappointments over the past couple years so it was great to see her come away with that result," Vizsolyi said.

The Summer National Championships are currently being held at Victoria's Commonwealth Pool from July 28th to 31st. For full results and media coverage visit Swimming Canada's website.

Original story here at the Vikes website.