Island swimmers make statement at U.S. Grand Prix

Cleve Dheensaw / Times Colonist
February 16, 2013

Everybody knows what Islander and two-time Olympic medallist Ryan Cochrane can do in the pool as he looks to samba on the podium at Rio 2016.

But watch out for Victoria Academy of Swimming teammate Alexa Komarnycky, who aims to be right there with him.

Komarnycky, one of seven Victoria Academy swimmers who represented Canada at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, finished off the U.S. Grand Prix meet in Orlando, Florida, with two medals Saturday.

Komarnycky (2:16.98) was second to Becca Mann of the U.S. (2:15.25) in the women’s 200-metre individual medley. Just minutes earlier, she had won bronze in the 800-metre freestyle in 8:41.67 behind Americans Mann (8:27.37) and Ashley Steenvoorden (8:38.06).

“The 800 is my main focus this year and I was hoping to go a little faster,” said Komarnycky,” in a statement.

“But knowing the 200 IM was coming up right after, really hit me. Still it was very gratifying to come back with a solid 200 IM.”

Victoria Academy head coach Randy Bennett said Komarnycky gutted it out.

“Alexa had a very tough double but got through it,” said Bennett, from Orlando.

“She showed great strength of character.”

Hilary Caldwell, another Victoria Academy swimmer from the London Games, took silver in the women’s 200-metre backstroke in 2:11.11. American sensation Missy Franklin of the U.S. — the multi-medal winner at London from Colorado but with Canadian parents — won the race in 2:08.47.

“It was alright,” Caldwell said in a statement.

“My training has only started to pick up the last couple of weeks and I’m looking forward to an excellent preparation for the [Canadian] world championship trials [April 3-6 in her home Saanich Commonwealth Games pool].”

Bennett, however, sees an emerging athlete.

“Hilary swam a very solid 200 back, second to Missy Franklin,” he noted.

“She continues to look comfortable and competitive with senior international swimmers. I look forward to a great swim out of her at the trials.”

Alec Page, an 18-year-old London Olympian from Victoria Academy, was fifth in the men’s 200-metre IM.

Claremont-grad Cochrane, silver medallist in the 1,500-metre freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics and bronze medallist at Beijing in 2008, did not swim Saturday after winning gold Friday in the 400-metre freestyle.