Jan. 12, 2009
GUAM - Texas A&M women's swimming signee Kendra Chernoff (Saskatoon, Sask., Canada) earned two medals at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships this past week.
Chernoff, who was named a Canadian team captain prior to the meet, nearly swam a lifetime best in the 100-meter butterfly, bringing home the bronze medal in 1:00.53. Chernoff's career best in the event is 1:00.50.
"I was three one-hundredths off my best time and I think I lost that time in the first 50 meters," Chernoff said. "Overall I was pleased with my race but I felt a gold was possible for me."
On the meet's final day, Chernoff nearly led the Canadians to a huge upset win over the United States. With Canada in fourth place at the halfway point of the 400-meter medley relay, Chernoff exploded past all three teams (U.S., Australia, and Japan) on the butterfly leg, splitting 59.88, to put her squad in position to record the biggest upset of the championships. The Canadians eventually earned the silver medal in 4:06.25, just behind the first place Americans (4:06.04).
Chernoff also earned a seventh-place finish in the 200-meter butterfly on the first day of the meet, setting a lifetime-best of 2:14.79.
The Jr. Pan Pacific meet was made up of junior teams from Australia, Canada, China, the United States, Japan, New Zealand, Bermuda, Mexico, Guam, El Salvador and Costa Rica.