Two Tri-City swimmers helped the Simon Fraser University Clan women's team take 12th place at the NCAA Division II National Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., last week.
Port Moody sophomore Lauren Swistak and Coquitlam senior Alex Schofield lifted their squad with a strong performance in the 400-yard freestyle relay on the last day of the competition, after helping the team qualify earlier on at the event.
Last Thursday, on the second day of the competition, Swistak and Schofield joined and Meaghan Frenks in the 4x100-yard medley relay, winning All-American honours with a six-place finish that propelled the Clan from 18th to the 11th overall position at the competition.
The four turned in a time of 3:45.94, edging out seventh-place Wayne State by two one-hundredths of a second.
SFU held on to its position with another strong performance in the 800-yard relay.
That event also featured Swistak and Schofield along with Nicole Cossey and Maran Kokoszka, finishing fifth with 7:27.41.
"Every one of the girls on the relay elevated her performance and found a little extra to give to the team and we needed it," said Liam Donnelly, the coach of the team. "Nicole was under pressure swimming last and she stepped up and delivered."
Swistak and another Coquitlam athlete, Dimitar Ivanov from the men's side, are expected to compete at Canada's selection competition for the World university Games, which will be held in Korea.
They are also competing in events for the the World Championships, which will be held in Russia, and the Pan American Games, which will be held in Toronto between April 1-4.
For more information about the SFU Clan swim team go to athletics.sfu.ca and follow the links.
@GMcKennaTC
