VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds successfully defended their Odlum Brown Colleges Cup – Pacific title by winning both the men's and eomen's sides of the meet at the state-of-the-art UBC Aquatic Centre. Top talent from all Canada West varsity teams, plus Simon Fraser University, combined for 19 total meet records and a pair of new Canadian records over the two-day event.
 
"The swim meet was of the highest quality," said UBC head coach Steve Price. "Both sides of the program - the varsity swimmers training with the High Performance Centre – Vancouver, and the varsity swimmers working with [Derrick Schoof] and I - are firing on all cylinders with three weeks to go before the Canada West Championships. To have the quality of racing and performances at this point in the season bodes well for the rest of the season. We look forward to hosting again next season with the support of our sponsor Odlum Brown."
 

UBC's Markus Thormeyer set multiple meet records, including two Canadian records in the 4x50-metre medley relay (1 minute, 37.24 seconds) and the 200 backstroke (1:52.12). Fellow Canadian national team member Josiah Binnema won all three butterfly events in meet record-breaking fashion, while also contributing to the 4x50 medley relay Canadian record. Second-year T-Bird Jaren LeFranc swept the breaststroke events and rookie Alex Pratt dominated the 200 and 400 freestyle events.
 

Ingrid Wilm, Maia Brundage, Emily Overholt, Hoi Lam Karen Tam and Hillary Metcalfe led the way for the Thunderbird women and contributed to a successful weekend of swimming by breaking individual and relay records. The T-Bird women set a pair of meet records in the 4x50 medley relay (1:52.25) and the 4x50 freestyle relay (1:43.03), while Wilm topped her own 2017 meet record with a 59.04 time in the 100 backstroke.
 

Next up are the Canada West Championships in Calgary Nov. 23-25, where UBC will attempt to defend their conference titles. The 'Birds will also look to defend their national titles as they host the 2018 U SPORTS Swimming Championships in late February.
 
Team Results:
 
Men
UBC – 1,084 points
Calgary – 946
Simon Fraser – 665
Alberta – 579
Victoria – 509
Team West (Lower Mainland high school all-stars) – 411
Lethbridge 340
Regina – 305
Manitoba – 188
Thompson Rivers – 105
 
Women
UBC – 1,069 points
Calgary – 789
Team West (Lower Mainland high school all-stars) – 735
Victoria – 599
Simon Fraser – 507
Alberta – 490
Manitoba – 360
Lethbridge – 207
Regina – 194
Thompson Rivers – 83

Combined Team Scores
UBC – 2,153
Calgary – 1,735
Simon Fraser – 1,172
Team West (Lower Mainland high school all-stars) – 1,146
Victoria – 1,108
Alberta – 1,069
Manitoba – 548
Lethbridge – 547
Regina – 499
Thompson Rivers – 188