Dominique Bouchard Sends Out 2:10.01 Signal at Columbia Sectionals

2016 Columbia Sectionals

• July 20th-23rd, 2016
• Columbia, Missouri (University of Missouri)
• Meet Central
• Live Results: Meet Mobile “2016 Region VIII Summer Sectionals”

Canadian swimmer Dominique Bouchard, who trains as a post-grad at the University of Missouri, has qualified for the 2016 Canadian Olympic Team in both the 100 and 200 backstroke, and she celebrated Wednesday’s announcement of the official (sort of) entry lists from FINA with a win in the longer distance on night 1 of the 2016 Columbia Sectionals meet.

Bouchard swam 2:10.01 to win the event by 8 seconds, which is one of the better in-season times of her career. Although the Olympic Games are now just over two weeks away, making this a positive sign for Bouchard – last year, she swam to silver at the Pan Am Games final in a similar time (2:09-mid) and on a similar timing from the World Championships, which would see her go on to a lifetime best and a spot in the final.

Other day 1 winners:

• Former Minnesota standout Lauren Votava won the women’s 100 free in 56.38, beating out RCSA teammate Jordan Stout (57.13) in the final.
• Another RCSA swimmer, 15-year old Jack Dolan, swam just short of his lifetime best with a 51.54 in the men’s 100 free. He beat 23-year old Sean Feher by .01 seconds in that race, with the top 4 finishers all within .13 seconds of each other.
• Madison Strathman topped the women’s 200 breaststroke in 2:34.08.
• Christopher Heye won the men’s 200 breaststroke in 2:17.81.
• University of Florida sophomore-to-be Brennan Balogh, competing under his hometown Lincoln Select Swimming banner at this meet, won the men’s 200 back in 2:03.00.