Alums Shine In Annual Event

Homecoming comradery was abundant in BYU’s annual alumni swimming meet Friday night.

Among the highlights were first place finishes by former All-American Brett Allen (2005-07), Jorge Azevedo (2005-08), Hanalee Hawkins (1997-2000), a second place finish by Dmitri Malinovski (1997-99), and a fourth place finish by Dr. Kurt Dickson (1986-89).

Allen hit a time of 20.26 to win the 50 free, Azvedo won the 50 fly in 22.7, Hawkins won the 50 free in 25.55 and Malinovski was runner-up in the 50 breast and Dickson clocked 1:52.5 in the 200 free.

“Allen’s time was close to a pool record, but he has been on a big rest,” said BYU coach Tim Powers of Allen who had returned from Texas. “His legs caught up to him in the relay.

“It was so much fun to see all of these alumni come back. Our current swimmers were at a disadvantage, too, because we worked them out before the meet for four hours and we swam them in off events.”

Among the oldest of the alums present at the meet were Skip Brooks (father of current assistant John), who swam for BYU in the 1960’s and later coached for the Cougars. While Brooks did not compete in Friday’s events, Gary Shaw (1972-73) did swim in the 50 breast.

Also swimming in that 50 breast was Malinovski, from Moscow, Russia, who now works for a consulting firm in Washington, D.C.

Dickson, whose daughter Kelsey is a sophomore on the current team, is an ER doctor in Glendale, Ariz., and he won the Around Alcatraz swim in 2007.

Azvedo, from Brazil, now works for Goldman Sachs in Salt Lake City and still works out three to four times a week.

Hawkins, who also placed second in the 50 back at 30.72, is an adjunct professor at Weber State where she teaches health and wellness.

Among the alums swimming Friday evening were Scott Christensen (1980-85), who’s wife was a Cougar diver and whose daughter is a diver on the current team. Other alums swimming included brothers James (2001-05) and Johnathan Bekker (2006-07), Kenny Clark (2004-09), Gregor Greiner (2007-09), Jacoby Jacobsen (2004-09) and Elise Livengood (2006-09).

The current Cougar swimming team competes next week when it opens the season by hosting UNLV on Friday (Oct. 30) and Arizona State on Saturday (Oct. 31).