Toronto-The crowd was bigger and more excited tonight, even cheering for a distance event. An educated crowd, cheering for distance swimming, is certainly the best outcome of Ryan Cochrane's lone medal in Beijing. He did not disappoint either. Victoria Poon broke 2 Canadian Records, while Tanya Hunks proved that 28 is not to old to be a distance swimmer. 

Men's 800 Free 

Canada's swimming hero from the Olympic Games was the obvious favourite, but how fast would Ryan Cochrane (IS) go? From the start, Cochrane was under the Canadian Record pace he set at February's Canada West Champs of 7:46.17. His splits on route to a new record of 7:39.57:

54.01, 1:51.13 (56.12) 2:49.47 (58.34), 3:47.46 (57.99), 4:45.62 (58.20), 5:43.92 (58.30), 6:42.58 (58.64), 7:39.57 (56.99).

"It didn't start off the way I wanted it too," said Cochrane "I thought it would feel easier! But I just had to race and set myself up for some good swims this week." In for silver was 16 year old Chad Bobrosky (CASC) in 7:54.35 with Cochrane's teammate 16 year old Jeremy Bagshaw (IS) in for bronze from the morning heats with a 7:54.83.

100 Free

On the women's side it was the battle of the Olympic sprinters: Erica Morningstar (UCSC) versus Victoria Poon (CNPPO). She missed out on much of the Games after breaking out with chicken pox in Beijing, but Poon is back! She broke the Canadian record in the 50 free leading out the relay last night, and took out the 100 in a 25.82 to Morningstar's 26.02. There was no stopping her. She won in 53.52-off the National Record owned by Morningstar who touched in 53.70. Bronze wen to Genevieve Samur (CNPP) in 54.37 while 16 year old Heather MacLean (ESWIM) was fourth in 54.49.

"Actually after Beijing, I was a bit down, but I've come back and I am feeling good," said Poon. "I didn’t know I would that! But training is going really good for us." 

On the men's side the showdown was also between 2008 Olympians Brent Hayden (UBCD) and Colin Russell (DS/UT). Hayden took it out with a 22.27 to Russell's 22.89 and hung on despite Russell charging up on his laneline. Hayden lowered the Canadian Record set by Russell at CIS's last month to a 46.27, while Russell was 46.94. Third spot went to 200 fly winner Stefan Hirniak (IS) in 48.27. "It is always great racing Brent," said Russell. "All I can do is just try to come back on him!" 

"He always brings out the best in me," said Hayden of Russell. "It is great for Canada and I look forward to our relay this summer when we go back to Rome for the World Champs." 

100 Breast 

Annamay Pierse (UBCD) left nothing to chance tonight in the women's 100 Breast, taking it out in 30.84 for a new Canadian Record of 1:04.67. 50 winner Amanda Reason (ESWIM) was second in 1:06.85 while Haylee Johnson (UBCD) earned bronze in 1:07.50. When asked about the key to her success, Pierse said, "Really hard training!" As for her swim, she was pleased. "It is a little off where I wanted to be, but I have the 200 on Saturday and that's what I've been training for." 

Teammate Scott Dickens (UBCD) made it two for two for Vancouver with his win in the men's 100 Breast. His time of 58.48 knocked almost a second off the Canadian Record set by Morgan Knabe (UCSC) back in 2002 of 59.34. Out in 27.63 to Mathieu Bois' (CNPP) 28.21, Dickens dominated. "It felt really good," said Dickens. "I needed to just stay in my lane. After CIAUs I just had to calm down a bit, it really was just a stepping stone for this meet." 

400 Ind medley

Olympic distance freestyler Tanya Hunks (UBCD) was in total control of all 4 strokes tonight and in doing so brought down the National Record set by her old age-group teammate Joanne Malar. Malar's time of 4:34.90 in 1999 was good enough for the World Title back then. Now Hunks is the record owner with her 4:32.57. Her splits: 1:02.32, 1:07.62, 1:19.85, and 1:02.28.

In for silver was Olympian Alexa Komarnycky (IS) who relocated to Island Swimming post Beijing. Her time of 4:35.12 was her best. Bronze went to Annamay Pierse's younger sister, Hanna Pierse in 4:37.91.

"I've been waiting a long time for that one," said an elated Hunks. "I was going to retire after the Games, but my parents said if there's still something left, keep going." At 28, Hunks is one of the oldest, but fittest, women in the pool.

Tim Ruse (PCSC) won his first national title with a 4:12.57 win in the men's 400IM. "That was 4 seconds off my best. It was tough the whole way after the fly." The National record is 4:02.72 set by Brian Johns (UBCD) in 2003. When set, it was a World Record, the last held by a Canadian in the short course pool. "When asked if the record was in his mind Ruse replied, "Not this year! But maybe the next." 

Silver and bronze went to Andrew Ford (GMAC) in 4:12.70 and David Dimitrov (UCSC) in 4:16.72.

50 Fly

It was wondered if she would even swim at all. Just minutes before the race, Victoria Poon's (CNPP) suit ripped. It took a team of highly trained experts (her teammates) to get her into a new one and as the other women stood behind the blocks wondering, Poon emerged in time to race. It was lucky she made it, because her swim was a new Canadian Record of 26.21 (her 3rd of the competition) and fast enough for the win. Silver medal went to former record holder Jennifer Carroll (CAMO) in 26.75. A tie for third went to Vanessa Charron (CSQ) and Paige Miller (COBRA) at 26.98. 

The men's side wasn't quite as thrilling, but winner Joe Bartoch (LAC) did lower the record he set in heats to a 23.31 from a 23.33. His morning swim wiped from the record books Mike Mintenko, who is one of Bartoch's flying heroes. Mintenko had sent a word of congrats, but Bartoch was quick to remember the Tank even if his records are going down. "We will see about the 100 tomorrow and Mike's record. I will always remember him if that's any consolation!"

In other news from Swim Canada:

Canada’s first ever-Olympic swimming medalist Elaine Tanner received a standing ovation during her induction into Swimming Canada’s Circle of Excellence at the University of Toronto pool.

"The significance of the Inner Circle of Excellence for me symbolizes a completeness," said Elaine Tanner. "There is a great sense of satisfaction in knowing where I started and just how far I came in order to have achieved this honor. Ultimately, it is in the challenge to better your very best where that greatness is born."

Tanner, also known as the “Mighty mouse” of Canadian swimming, was also first athlete in Canada to win 3 medals in a single Olympic Games. Coached by the late Howard Firby, Tanner wowed Canadians with her incredible athletic exploits and won their hearts with her uniquely Canadian charm. These powerful moments will continue to mark Canadian sport history.

“Elaine Tanner is a true icon in Canadian sports.  We are truly honored to induct her into Swimming Canada’s Circle of Excellence the year we celebrate our 100th anniversary,” said Pierre Lafontaine, CEO and National Coach. 

In the early 60’, Elaine Tanner, a 15-year-old swimming sensation from Vancouver, appeared on the scene. 

In 1966, Tanner showed Canadians why international sport and pride in your country is so important.  And it seems our world sports stature has been on a steady climb ever since.  At the Commonwealth Games that year in Jamaica she won four gold medals –including world marks in the 200-metre butterfly and 400-metre individual medley- and three silver. 

She was the first quadruple female Commonwealth Games champion. She won the Lou Marsh Award as Canada’s athlete of the year, still the youngest recipient in history.

A year later at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, she showed her success was no fluke.  Tanner won gold in the 100 and 200 backstroke, both in world record time, and added three silver medals.  

Canadian pride swelled even more when “Mighty Mouse” a nickname to describe her fierce competitiveness, stepped on the podium three times at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.  The medals were silver in the 100 and 200 backstroke and bronze in the 4X100 freestyle relay.  It was more than half of Canada’s total at the Games.

Tanner retired from swimming after the Games.  It was said that Elaine Tanner made one of the biggest impacts in the water of any Canadian swimmer ever.  She was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 1969 and was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1971.  In all, the 17-time national champion has been inducted into seven Halls of Fame. The Elaine Tanner Award is presented annually to Canada’s junior female athlete of the year at the Canadian Sport Awards.

She received a Diploma from the Department of Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University in 1986 with First Class Honors majoring in Fitness and Health. She expanded her studies in natural health in the 1990’s and earned a Diploma as a Holistic Health Counselor Certified by the American Society of Alternative Therapists in Massachusetts.

She currently lives with her husband John Watt in Oakville, ON.