July 17, 2008
WINNIPEG- Texas A&M swimmer Julia Wilkinson (Stratford, Ont.) broke the Canadian national record in the 100-meter backstroke for the third time in four months at Canadian Summer Nationals on Thursday morning.
Wilkinson, who just left to join her Olympic teammates on Tuesday after training most of the summer in College Station, set a new national record of 1:00.59 in the 100 back. She blistered her old mark of 1:01.41 set in the championship final at the Canadian Olympic Trials on April 2.
“It’s super encouraging for me to post that kind of time,’’ said Wilkinson. “It’s a bit surprising for me because usually I need more time to get comfortable after traveling. In the last 20 meters though I could really feel it.’’
The A&M senior-to-be and reigning Big 12 Swimmer of the Year will likely swim at least seven events at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, which is thought to be the most by any Olympian in Canadian history.
Wilkinson will compete next in the preliminaries of the 100-meter freestyle on Thursday night at Canadian Summer Nationals. The Olympic Games will begin on August 8.