Hazelton qualifies for Olympic trials

Shannon Hazelton will get a chance for a berth into the Olympics after qualifying for the Canadian Olympic Swimming Trails on Thursday.

The 17 year-old member of the Sault Ste. Marie Aquatic Club gained a spot into the trials after qualifying in the 50-metre freestyle in time trials at the John Rhodes Community Centre. Hazelton was timed at 27.03 seconds.

The trials are scheduled for July 6-11 in Etobicoke.

Hazelton will join fellow SSMAC swimmer Jeff Byrne, who qualified last season as a member of the Ontario All-Star Team at the British Columbia Triple A Championships. In the 100-metre butterfly, Byrne posted a time of 56.99 seconds.

"It was a lot of work, something I have been pursuing for a long time," said Hazelton. "This is an opportunity to compete against some of the best swimmers in Canada and gain experience toward my main goal of competing in four years in Bejing.

"In the shorter term, my focus will be on trials next year in Montreal for the Canada Games and the World Championships."

SSMAC head coach Rob Moreside is proud that Hazelton has been able to battle through her intense training and competition schedule.

"I am proud she stuck with it," said Moreside. "She accomplished this feat through difficult training and competition schedules. I was always confident that she could do this, so it's fantastic.

"She needed to prove it to herself that she can do this and she has."