Nouvelles-sport canadien
June 3, 2007
Ryan Cochrane breaks Canadian record at Mel Zajac Jr International / Bell Swimming Grand Prix
VANCOUVER � Ryan Cochrane of Victoria broke the Canadian record Sunday in the men�s 1,500-metre freestyle to conclude the Mel Zajac Jr International / Bell Swimming Grand Prix.
Cochrane clocked 15 minutes and 08.25 seconds to eclipse the previous national mark of 15:09.44 set by Andrew Hurd of Toronto last year. Sandy Lockhart of Vancouver was second and C.J. Nuess of the U.S., third.
��It was pretty unexpected,�� said Cochrane, 18. ��It was the end of the meet, I wasn�t happy with my performances so far and I didn�t have a good warm-up. My strategy tonight was to hold back a bit at the start. At the 1,000 I saw that I needed to pick it up. Once I was on pace for the record I knew I could make it. I could see the splits and hear the cheering.��
Meanwhile world champion Brent Hayden of Vancouver and Matt Hawes of Vancouver both set meet records.
Hayden won the men�s 100 freestyle in 49.94 for his second victory and meet record in two days despite a sore back. Rick Say of Victoria was second and Chad Hankewich of Calgary third.
��I just tried to remember how I swam the 50 freestyle last night,�� said Hayden. ��Everything was good about the race except the last 15 metres and that�s probably due to some missed training. For the next while my main focus will be to get the back better. But I plan to follow my usual training schedule as best I can and get the metres in.��
Hawes took the 100 backstroke in 55.68 to break the previous meet record of 55.94 set by American Lenny Krayzelburg in 1999.
One of the most exciting races was the men�s 200 butterfly with Stefan Hirniak of Victoria out duelling Adam Sioui of Calgary for the gold. Hirniak took top spot in 2:03.29 and Sioui clocked 2:03.35.
��It was a big win,�� said Hirniak, tuning up for the Pan Am Games in July. ��I knew I had the lead at the splits and I just tried to hang on. Turns out it was very close. I was just concentrating on my technique and executing long efficient strokes. I�ve had a tendency to spin my strokes in the butterfly.��
Matthew Huang of Vancouver won the men�s 50 breaststroke.
Winners in women�s competition included Elizabeth Wycliffe of Kingston, Ont., in the 100 backstroke, Erica Morningstar of Calgary in the 100 freestyle, Mackenzie Downing of Victoria in the 200 butterfly and Kelsey Ditto of the U.S., who set a meet record in the 800 freestyle.
Full results available at http://www.pacificdolphins.com/results/