Simon Fraser Press Release
BURNABY, BC – Simon Fraser University rebounded from lopsided losses on the road to Seattle University last weekend to win the women’s competition and nearly take down the NCAA D1 Redhawks on the men’s side in the final home meet of the season for the Clan Saturday at the short course metres Margaret and Paul Savage Pool on campus.
The Clan women won 122-88 while the men’s team came within 19 points, losing 111-92. Last weekend the Redhawks won 15 of 22 events overall and the scores read 119-84 for Seattle on the women's side, while the SFU men were downed 138-65.
Saturday, in the final home meet for the seniors, the Clan won 16 of 22 races, including three of four relays. The Clan women won 10 of 11 races.
“These same two teams went at it seven days ago and Seattle University really dominated the competition,” said Clan head coach Liam Donnelly. “In those 7 days our team really turned that around. They showed outstanding resilience and they raised their game to a new level this week versus last. It was very impressive show of resilience and character.”
Five Clan swimmers won two races each and two new dual meet records were set by freshman phenom Jessica Gibson (200 backstroke) and All-American Adrian VanderHelm (200 butterfly).
Gibson’s short course metres time of 2:16.18 in winning the 200 backstroke broke Diana Ureche’s 1995 record of 2:20.05 and was more than two seconds faster than the second place swimmer from Seattle U. In the 200 individual medley Gibson’s winning time was 2:18.27. Senior Lauren Swistak captured the 200 freestyle (2:07.18) and 200 butterfly (2:18.48) while freshman Kristen Olvet won the 800 freestyle (9:11.42) and 400 freestyle (4:32.74) races.
On the men’s side, VanderHelm’s 200 butterfly mark of 2:02.41 eclipsed teammate Gabriel Lee’s 2014 school dual meet record of 2:04.11. VanderHelm also won the 200 individual medley (2:04.05). Like Olvet, sophomore Mackenzie Hamill, the 2016 NCAA champion in the 1650 yards freestyle, also won both freestyle distance races, taking the 800 in 8:18.56 and the 400 in 3:59.12.
Single race winners for the Clan were Elaine Lam in the 50 free (28.07) and Sydney Peake in the 100 free (59.46) for the Clan women. Gabriel Lee took top spot in the 100 free (51.43) for the men.
