Two of the Yukon’s best swimmers, Mackenzie Downing and Alexandra Gabor, were in Montreal last week for Swim Canada’s Pan-Pacific Championship Trials.
The meet was swum in an outdoor long-course pool under very hot and humid conditions.
Downing, a former Whitehorse Glacier Bears’ swimmer now with the University of Victoria, had an “incredible swim meet with very fast and impressive results,” said Yukon Swim and Glacier Bears assistant coach Kathy Zrum.
In the women’s 100-metre fly, Downing smashed the senior BC provincial record in a final time of one minute even.
Her 200-metre fly time was the fourth-best time ever by a female Canadian.
Downing was named to the 2006 Canada Pan-Pacific Championship team based on her first place finish in the 200 fly and her second place finish in the 100 fly. She finished sixth in the 800-metre freestyle event as well.
Gabor, 13, was competing against senior national swimmers in this open meet.
“For her first meet at this impressive level, she did very well, as the swimmers are all competing in the senior age group,” said Zrum.
“This meet was a good experience for Alex, to compete at this level, and was very rewarding for Alex at the same time,” said Glacier Bears’ head coach Marek Poplawski.
Once a swimmer has taken on a challenge at this level, “it becomes much easier the next time around,” Poplawski added.
Gabor’s results include: 100-metre free — 33rd place, 200-metre free — 27th place, 400-metre free — 22nd place, 800-metre free — 45th place, 1,500-metre free — 24th place.
For the majority of the events Gabor was competing against 70 to 90 competitors. (IS)