Hyack Swim Club's Sherry Liu is off to Mexico after a silver medal swim at the Canadian summer nationals on Sunday.
The 17-year-old Liu qualified for the XVI Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico with her runner-up time in the women's 800-metre freestyle at the summer nationals in Pointe-Claire, Que.
The Pan Am Games will run from Oct. 14 to 30.
"It was a pretty good race for everyone involved. But it wasn't just a matter of getting her hand on the wall, she had to get her hand on the wall and have a pretty good time," said Hyack head coach Mark Bottrill.
Liu, who came to the Hyacks in December, also finished second in the 1,500m and third in her very first final at 400m at the summer nationals.
In the 800, the fifth-ranked Liu was fourth at the halfway mark, but posted three of her four fastest splits in the latter half of the race to finish in an overall time of 8:51.85.
Bridget Coley, 18, of Hamilton won the 800m in a time of 8:48.15, well off Brittany Riemer's Canadian record of 8:27.59.
Liu clocked a time of 16:53.71 in the 1,500m, five seconds behind the winning time by Ottawa's Tabitha Baumann.
In the 400m, Liu was the youngest swimmer on the podium, finishing behind to 18-year-old competitors.
"(Liu's) experience level is coming in leaps and bounds," Bottrill said. "She has really taken to what we do."
Two other young Hyacks also had nice swims at the summer nats.
New Westminster's Matt Hua made the B final in the men's 100m breaststroke.
Stefan Milosevic of Burnaby also made some waves.
The 15-year-old Cariboo Hill Secondary student broke an age group record set by former Olympian Bruce Berger in the 200m backstroke back in 1978.
Milosevic's time of 2:08.80 placed in a C final in 28th overall place.
The Canadian age group nationals begin on Thursday.
