Victoria-With 6 spots up for grabs on the Canadian Pan Pacific Team heading to Irvine, California in August, it was the rookies who stepped up to the challenge. Making their very first national team tonight were 4 newcomers: Hassan Abdel-Khalik, Tianna Rissling, Warren Barnes, and Jordan Hartney.
Women's 100 Free-Victoria Poon (CNPPO), already on the team after winning this event and the 50 free in April at the Pan Pac trials, continued to dominate with a 55.68 win over Julia Wikinson (IS). Wilkinson, who qualified for the team last night with her 200 free win, got her hand on the wall just ahead of Hannah Riordan (CNPPO) 55.84 to 55.86. “We missed Julia in April,” said a humble Poon post race. “We are glad she's back because she is a really good racer.” Sinead Russell (DS) already on the team for the 100 back, and Seanna Mitchell (UCSC) rounded out the top 5.
Men's 100 Free-Like Poon, Brent Hayden (UBCD) has nothing to prove this week, but as defending Pan Pac champ, he left nothing to chance. Winning easily in 49.19 (23.44 at the 50), Hayden was happy with the swim although well off his national record of 47.27. In for silver and scooping up the open spot on the team was 18 year old Hassaan Abdel-Khalik (ESWIM) with a 50.16. Known more for his middle-distance abilities, Abdel-Khalik finalled this year at NCAAs in the 500yard free as a first year at Michigan. “I am very happy right now,” he said after qualifying for his first national team. “I was injured this year and the 100 was unexpected, but after I didn't make it in the 200, you do what you have to do.” Bronze went to Olympian Richard Hortness (LAC) in 50.70, while Rory Biskupski (UBCD) and Blake Worsley (IS) finished in fourth and fifth spot. Colin Russell (DS) did not swim the event, however due to the unlimited entries allowed in heats at Pan Pacs, he will still be eligible to swim the 100 in California.
Women's 100 Breast- “I'm just so excited!” said 17 year old Tianna Rissling (AMAC) after her win of 1:08.68. Rissling lead from start to finish (32.06) to earn her first spot on the national team. “The girls here are all really great, I just love racing them. It's such a fun race!” Rissling hails from Medicine Hat, which also produced Richard Hortness and 90's national team breaststroker Rob Fox. Touching in second was Jillian Tyler (CASC) in 1:08.94 with Chelsey Salli (LOS) in for third in 1:09.11. Already on the team for this event is 200 breast world record holder Annamay Pierse (UBCD).
Men's 100 Breast-Warren Barnes (TSC), yet another rookie, added his name to the roster for Pan Pacs with his 1:02.07 win. “That was a really good race, but I would still like to go 1:01,” said Barnes seriously, but he will have a chance to do that in in August. He was pushed by Scott Dickens (UBCD) with a 1:02.14 who is already on the team after his 200 breast win at trials. Bronze went to 17 year old Richard Funk (EKSC) in 1:02.54. Paul Kornfeld (UCSC) was in the B Final, but already qualified for Pan Pacs with his win in this event at trials.
Women's 400IM-With no spots open for the Pan Pac team after Alexa Komarnycky (IS) and Tanya Hunks (UBCD) were both under the FINA 'A' times at the trials, the race was left for crowning the national champion as well as secondary team selection. In addition to Pan Pacs, this meet is also the trials for the Nations Cup to be held next week here in Victoria between CAN, FRA, USA, and Brazil, the North American Challenge Cup next week in California, and Junior Pan Pacs in Maui in late August. With Komarnycky not racing, Hunks easily won in 4:44.67, but was well off her best of 4:35.84. “Last week was a full week of training,” admitted Hunks. “Tom [Johnson] kicked my butt last week in the pool and I wasn't feeling that good this morning, but I was only a bit slower than when I was shaved and tapered earlier this year, so I hope to get a medal at Pan Pacs this summer.” Melanie Dodds (LOSC) came back well on the free leg to win silver in 4:45.97 with Hanna Pierse (UBCD) in for bronze in 4:47.56.
Men's 400IM-Brian Johns (UBCD) led his training partner Jordan Hartney (UBCD) to a national team spot with his 4:17.83 victory. Johns has already qualified for Pan Pacs with his win in this event and the 200IM at trials. “My goal tonight was to be faster than I was earlier this summer in Santa Clara, and it was right on,” said Johns. “With the level of training I have been doing I will be right on where I want to be at Pan Pacs. Victoria is like a second home to me. I made my first national team here, I broke the world record here in the 400IM, and I re-made the national team here after I was injured so to swim fast in this pool, is very special to me.” Hartney was second in 4:20.57 and earned his first national team selection, despite admitting to an up and down season that got better with food. “The summer picked up and I had this delicious sandwich at JEI [Janet Evans Invitation] and it inspired me to make this team so I could go back to California and have that sandwich.” Sixteen year old Matt Kwatyra (LAC) had a great race for third with his 4:23.15.
Women's and Men's 50 Back-Not a selection event for Pan Pacs, it was won on the women's side by Julia Wilkinson in 28.92. The national record holder will not swim the event at Pan Pacs, joking that her coach, Randy Bennett, would probably not approve the entry. “I was hoping that Randy would take this event seriously if I broke the pool record [of 28.90] but I had a bad touch, so I guess it's my fault anyway!” On the men's side, 100 back winner Jake Tapp (LOSC) won easily in 26.21. “You know I wanted to go under 26, so I definitely hope to be under 26, maybe 25-mid at Pan Pacs. It's going to be a great team, and it's nice to see some new faces and get experience from some of the veterans as well.”
See full meet results here:
https://www.swimming.ca/liveresults/10SummerNationals/
