Six of the eight finalists were Island swimmers and there was an Island podium sweep, led by winner Ryan Cochrane. The two-time Olympic medallist in the 1,500 metres qualified for the world championships in the 400 freestyle with a 2013 fourth-best time of 3:47.08. Island Swim Club/Victoria Academy teammates Eric Hedlin took silver in 3:52.52, Will Brothers bronze in 3:53.22 and Keegan Zanatta fourth in 3:53.89.
Cochrane was pleased to see so many familiar faces on the podium with him, although the Victoria star was the only one to qualify for Barcelona in the 400 free.
鈥淚 was excited to see our club鈥檚 younger guys step up,鈥� said Cochrane.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really encouraging.鈥�
Although he won going away, Cochrane said there is more in the tank.
鈥淚 wanted to go faster, to be honest,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut the schedule is better at the worlds, with the 400 going first [Cochrane will also swim his 800- and 1,500-metre freestyle specialties at Barcelona].鈥�
The 400 freestyle is the event at the 2012 London Summer Games in which Cochrane failed to qualify for the final in a stunning upset in the preliminaries before winning the Olympic silver in the 1,500 freestyle.
鈥淭hat [Olympic 400 free situation] was really painful,鈥� said Cochrane.
Victoria Swim Academy head coach Randy Bennett added: 鈥淲e left a medal on the table [at London] by not making the 400 free final.鈥�
That won鈥檛 happen again, they both vow.
Hilary Caldwell, on the brink of not going to Barcelona, rallied Friday to win a spot on the team to the world championships along with fellow Victoria Swim Academy-qualifiers so far through the week Cochrane, Alec Page, Alexa Komarnycky, and Vancouver Academy鈥檚 Tommy Gossland of Nanaimo.
Olympian Caldwell won the women鈥檚 200-metre backstroke in 2:09.31 in her home pool after failing to qualify earlier in the week in her favoured 100-metre backstroke.
鈥淚 was hoping [to make the team] on Day 1 [Wednesday] but that didn鈥檛 happen in the 100-back. I knew I was under pressure tonight. I was really feeling it in the final 50 metres,鈥� said Caldwell.
She has a mission in mind for Barcelona.
鈥淚 was not super happy with my Olympics last year in London. I want to improve on that,鈥� said Caldwell.
Savannah King of Vernon stamped her ticket to Barcelona in the women鈥檚 400-metre freestyle by winning in 4:10.34, shunting fellow London Olympians Samantha Cheverton, Barbara Jardin and Brittany MacLean to positions two through four.
鈥淚t was great to race girls so strong,鈥� said King.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to have people beside you pushing you.鈥�
The trials conclude today with the qualifying prelims at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m., including Cochrane in the 1,500-metre freestyle.
