Ryan Cochrane’s ambition to lay siege on Barcelona this summer began with a kinetic opening night Wednesday at the Canadian swim trials for the 2013 FINA world championships, to be held July 19-Aug. 4 in the Catalan capital.
Victoria’s Cochrane set a 2013 world-best time of 7:49.26 in the 800-metre freestyle in his home Saanich Commonwealth Place pool before a large and appreciative gallery.
“I’ve been doing the best training of my life recently and it’s super encouraging to get that time so early in the year,” said the two-time Olympic medallist, who won silver in the 800 freestyle at the last world championships in 2011 at Shanghai.
“I was excited but a little nervous because we changed some things up, doing less distance training and focusing more on sprinting, and it’s paid dividends because I can’t let the 400 freestyle [Cochrane is world-renowned for the 800 and 1,500] fall by the wayside. It felt good all the way.”
Island swimmers swept the podium with Eric Hedlin of the UVic Vikes and Island Swimming second in 8:06.35 and Craig Dagnall of UVic-Pacific Coast Swimming the bronze medallist in 8:13.65.
Alec Page of Cortes Island, an 18-year-old Olympic rookie last year at London, was also swimming in his home pool Wednesday, and stamped his ticket to Barcelona in the men’s 200-metre freestyle by placing second in 1:49.36, behind former Victoria Swim Academy teammate Blake Worsley (1:48.80).
Because Canada has qualified a relay team in the men’s 4x200 freestyle, the top-four finishers in the event Wednesday are going to Barcelona. Joining Worsley and Page on the relay squad will be the emerging brothers Ali and Hassaan Abdel-Khalik of Etobicoke, Ont., as Jeremy Bagshaw of Victoria just missed by placing fifth.
“I’m really excited. Hopefully, I can get better as a swimmer,” said Page.
Worsley — born in B.C. but raised in Steamboat Springs, Colorado — thought he had retired after leaving the Victoria Swim Academy following the London Olympic trials but found a new wave in Toronto over the winter.
“A couple of months ago, I didn’t know I’d still be swimming,” he said in his poolside interview for the crowd. “Lo and behold, I’m on the [national] team again.”
Canada has also qualified a women’s 4x200 freestyle relay team for the world championships, so the top-four in that final Wednesday will go to Barcelona. And as a medal threat.
“After [Canada’s] Olympic fourth-place finish [at London in the 4x200 free relay], we realized we had something special,” said Samantha Cheverton of Pointe Claire, Que., who placed second in 1:58.80 to winner Barbara Jardin of Montreal (1:58.25).
Brittany MacLean of Etobicoke, Ont., was third in 1:59.53 and Savannah King of Vernon fourth in 2:00.34.
The relay team consisted of Jardin, Cheverton, MacLean and Amanda Reason, the last of whom will be supplanted in Barcelona by King.
“I’m so excited. It’s always been a dream of mine to be on this relay team,” said King.
The national trials run through Saturday. The qualification sessions each day at 10 a.m. are free to the public. The finals begin at 6 p.m. each night.
