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Nelson's Andrusak finds way into top-five in Canada

Nelson’s Jordan Andrusak competed in the Mel Zajac Jr. International, also known as the Canada Cup series for swimming.
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Nelson's Jordan Andrusak (left) had an opportunity to meet swimming superstar Ryan Lochte at last weekend's meet in Vancouver. Andrusak is now ranked in the top-five in Canada for her age group.

Nelson’s Jordan Andrusak competed in the Mel Zajac Jr. International, also known as the Canada Cup series for swimming at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver last weekend.

The senior international meet featured Canada’s Olympic and national swimmers as they train and prepare for the World Championships this summer. The meet garnered even more prominence when the reigning Olympic champions Ryan Lochte and Elizabeth Beisel entered the meet.

Lochte won five medals — two of them gold — at last year's London Summer Games and beat teammate Michael Phelps in the 400 metre individual medley. Beisel, who packs a lot of talent into her five-foot-six, 146-pound frame, won silver in the 400 IM and bronze in the 200 backstroke.

Andrusak — who now lives and trains Victoria — made the B final in the 100 breaststroke, 200 IM, and 400 IM and a C final in the 200 breaststroke in the open age class senior meet. The 14-year-old’s time of 1:14.59 broke a Vancouver Island record from 2007, placing her 16th overall. As well, her 200IM time 2:25.73 broke a club record and placed her 13th overall and her 400IM time of 5:06.16, again a club record, placed her 13 overall amongst senior national swimmers.

Andrusak now ranks in the top-five in Canada for girls 13-14 in the respective events.

Lochte provided great leadership to the younger swimmers attracting attention from many of the female competitors for photo opportunities. Andrusak and her Pacific Coast Swimming team competes in a Southern California meet next month before BC Provincials in mid-July and Canadian Age Group Nationals in Quebec in late July.