By Jon Roe
The Dinos swim team split their team for two events Nov. 3-5. Selecting their best for all the events, the Dinos sent an A team to Vancouver to compete against the University of British Columbia in the College’s Cup, an invitational meet. The University of Washington, University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, and Oregon State also participated. Meanwhile, the B team stayed at home and took part in the Dinos Invitational.
On the men’s side at the College’s Cup, the Dinos took the silver with 459 overall points, 63 behind gold-medalists UBC. The Washington Gold team rounded out the podium. The Dinos were led by Chad Hankewich, who picked up 74 total points for two event wins, and two second place finishes. Hankewich won the A-heats for the 200 metre freestyle, and the 50 m freestyle. Hankewich also contributed to a gold medal performance in the 400 m freestyle relay and earned three second place relay finishes for 71 points.
The men also had a strong performance from third-year Kevin Gillespie, who also contributed to the four podium finishes in the relay events. Gillespie won all three of the B-heats he participated in: the 100 m freestyle, the 200 m freestyle and the 50 m freestyle good for 39 points.
“I thought Kevin swam really well,” said swimming head coach Mike Blondal. “He’s a young guy [and] he’s got a lot of power. He’s really learning the sport. I thought his events were very good for this time of the year. He would’ve placed third or fourth in the A-heats.”
On the women’s side, the Dinos also did well in the relays, finishing second in the 200 m medley, second in the 400 m freestyle, third in the 400 m medley, and first in the 200 m freestyle.
Freshman Kevyn Peterson had the most unexpected and surprising finish of the College’s Cup. Her time of 4:18.60 in the 400 m freestyle was nine seconds faster than the second place racer in her heat, and the best overall time–even though she was racing in the B-heat.
“She’s a freshman [so we didn’t] know really where she stands, but her 400 m free time would’ve won the A-heat,” said Blondal. “She took 12 seconds off her best time. That’s a pretty big margin.”
It’s early in the season, and Blondal is impressed with his team. UBC has one of the strongest programs in the country, and Blondal likes how his team matched up with them.
“I’m satisfied with where we are,” said Blondal. “Of course I’d want to beat UBC. That’s certainly our goal to scare them, to come close, to push them, because that just makes us better.”
At home, the Dinos placed second-overall behind the University of Alberta Golden Bears/Pandas, after placing first on the men’s side, beating the Bears score by three points and placing second on the women’s side, finishing 23 points behind the Pandas.