May 1, 2010

MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada - Last month in Montreal, Quebec, Missouri senior Lauren Lavigna qualified for the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships after winning the women's 200 back event against some of the best Canadian swimmers in the world.

Lavigna finished in 2:11.36 for the title, making one of just two spots for the Canada team that will compete in the Pan Pacs in Irvine, California, Aug. 18-24. The time was well below the FINA "A" qualifying standard.

Lavigna, a Vancouver, British Columbia native, is no stranger to competition on the world stage, where last year at the world championships she broke a nine-year old Canadian record in the same event.