Page earns first victory at Canadian swimming trials

Three medals for the B.C. native this week in Toronto

Alec Page swam his personal best on Saturday night at the 2015 Canadian Swimming Trails. Courtesy Swimming Canada

A photo finish was worth a gold at the Canadian Swimming Trails.

Alec Page out-touched Zack Chetrat at the wall to win the 200 metre butterfly on Saturday night at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

The difference was .51 of a second.

Page’s burst of speed off the turn was huge coming down the stretch on the last 50 metres of the heated race.

“It was kind of the approach of not spending too much energy to be out with them, so as relaxed as possible but obviously not taking it easy,” said Page standing in the mixed zone at the new facility.

“When I approached the last wall it was time to forget about the tactics, kind of, and attack the race.”

The Olympian was on his best form during the tight race versus the prelim favourite, Mack Darragh, and runner up Chetrat. With all three neck and neck through the last 25 metres of the race, it took everything Page had to swim home the win.

Posting 1:58:64 was a personal best.

“I’m really happy yeah,” said Page. “I haven’t broken the 1:59 barrier so that was my first time and the next time try hopefully to just get closer and closer to that Canadian record.”

It was not a night to remember for Chetrat, as the runner-up was unable to grab the win.

Chetrat believed he had a lot more to give during the race and was unhappy in how he finished. The Toronto Swim Club member now believes it is time for him and his coach to re-evaluate.

“Not good, thought I had a lot more in me to be honest, I’m disappointed with it,” said Chatret. “Something is off, guess it’s time to look at things for myself, talk to my coach and figure out what’s next.”

About this article

By: Joe Narsa
Posted: Apr 4 2015 9:00 pm
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Filed under: 2015 Pan Am Games 2015 Team Canada Trials Swimming
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