VANCOUVER – UBC Thunderbirds swimmers experienced both happiness and heartbreak today at the Pan American Games in Toronto.
 
Day 6 of the event saw Luke Reilly of Richmond, B.C., claim silver in the men's 400-metre individual medley.
 
"Tonight was an amazing experience. I am so thankful for all the support and I am truly blessed to be able to race wearing the maple leaf," tweeted Reilly.
 
The Arts student finished in four minutes and 16.16 seconds, and touched the wall in third before being moved up to the silver medal position after Brazil's Thiago Pereira – the original winner – was disqualified.
 
Thiago's fate also befell UBC recruit Emily Overholt (West Vancouver) in the women's 400 IM. Overholt completed her race in 4:35.33, which would have been a Pan American Games record but she was disqualified for a "non-simultaneous" wall in the breaststroke portion of her swim.
 
Swimming Canada appealed the disqualification but it was upheld.
 
But the 17-year-old Overholt showed true character and grit by recovering in time to lead off for Canada in the 4x200 free relay. The team won bronze in a time of 7:59.36, giving Overholt her second medal of the games.
 
Also in the pool, current T-Bird Coleman Allen (Spokane, Wash.) finished second in the 'B' final of the men's 100 butterfly with a time of 53.46.
 
The women's volleyball competition began on Thursday with Canada falling in three sets to the Dominican Republic. UBC alumnae Kyla Richey (Roberts Creek, B.C.) and Shanice Marcelle (Victoria, B.C.) both saw action for the hosts, recording three and two points, respectively. The team will return to the court on Saturday against Cuba at 4 p.m. PT.
 
A 54th-minute goal by UBC graduate Scott Tupper (Vancouver) gave Canada a 1-0 win over Chile in men's field hockey action. Canada is now 2-0 and sits atop Pool B. Another Thunderbird alumnus David Carter (Vancouver) got the win in net. The team's next game is against Mexico on Saturday.
 
In baseball, UBC Sports Hall of Fame member Jeff Francis (Delta, B.C.) didn't appear in Canada's 11-4 preliminary round win over Puerto Rico on Thursday. The team will face the United States in its final preliminary game on Friday at 4:05 p.m. PT. The semifinals will take place on Saturday with the medal-round games slated for Sunday.
                                                               
Former UBC women's rugby player Nikola Girke (West Vancouver) was sixth in all three women's windsurfing RSX Opening Series races. She remains in sixth in the overall standings with 50 net points. Races 12 to 16 will take place tomorrow.
 
Also in action on Friday is Canada's women's field hockey team, which has six current and former Thunderbirds. Canada and Mexico will face off at 4 p.m. PT.
 
In swimming, Overholt will tackle the 400 freestyle event at 7:29 a.m. PT, with the 'A' final at 4:52 p.m. PT.
 
Current Thunderbirds Tera Van Beilen (Oakville, Ont.) and Alex Loginov (Toronto) will get to swim in front of a hometown crowd on Friday.
 
Van Beilen will participate in the women's women's 100 breaststroke at 8:11 a.m. PT, with the final at 5:36 p.m. PT. Loginov is in the third heat of the 50 freestyle at 8:51 a.m. PT. The final is at 6:16 p.m. PT.