Three Yukon swimmers overcame a tough field to achieve some big time results this past weekend at the 2008 Canada Cup in Etobicoke, Ontario.

Whitehorse Glacier Bears swimmers Alexandra Gabor and Bronwyn Pasloski as well as former Glacier Bear and current University of Victoria swimmer Mackenzie Downing won a combined two medals as well as broke several B.C. provincial swim records.

"I think we are on the right track and we couldn't be more ecstatic for these athletes competing at the elite level like this," said Ron Sumanik, president of Swim Yukon.

"I think this bodes well for 2008-09. Particularly if you look at the ages of the two Glacier Bear women, Alexandra is 15 (years old) and Bronwyn is 16 and they are up against athletes that are up to 30 years of age. To be anywhere in the final eight is outstanding for their age and, this early in the season, a fabulous result."

Besides including swimmers from all across Canada, this year's Canada Cup also featured Stanford University's womens swim team, which resulted in a world record being broken by Julia Smit.

Smit's time was just 0.1 seconds faster than the previous record set in the 400-m Intermediate Medley.

Pasloski had a great showing in all four events, achieving personal best times and making the A finals in everything except the 200-m breaststroke.

"My competition was really hard this year, so it was just really good to have a variety of different competition levels and it was good to have best times this early in the season," she said.

Pasloski also managed to break the first record of the meet for B.C., bettering the 15-17 Girls 100-m Breast provincial time, which she had set at the 2007 Canada Cup. Her final placing in the 100-m breaststroke was sixth.

At the 2007 meet, Pasloski won a silver in the 100 metre breaststroke and a bronze in the 50 metre breaststroke.

Other finishes that Pasloski achieved this past weekend included another sixth in the 50-breaststroke, a ninth place showing in the 200-m breaststroke and a sixth place result in the 100-m IM.

Pasloski, who achieved national carding status earlier this year, said it was special to compete at the meet representing both Whitehorse and Canada.

Pasloski said despite not medalling this time around, she was happy with her performance this year.

"I did better (than last year)," she said. "I got personal bests and that was awesome for me. The competition just stepped up so much this year and everyone is improving. Although I didn't medal I still think that it was a really good meet for me."

Gabor also had more than a few highlights, which included swimming in three A finals and a bronze medal in the 200-m freestyle.

Gabor finished the 200-m freestyle with the best Canadian time, but was beat out by two Stanford University swimmers. Gabor's time was two seconds faster than her previous best and she is currently ranked 16th in the world in the 200-m freestyle.

She said it was shocking to see how fast the girls from Stanford could swim.

"It's really going to push Canada as a whole a lot faster in the future," Gabor said.

"Especially me, seeing how fast they go it gave me a lot of motivation to work harder and swim faster."

Other results achieved by Gabor included finishing eighth in the 50-m freestyle, fifth in the 100-m free, and 10th in the 400-freestyle

Gabor accomplishments over the weekend weren't limited to just the pool, as she also was one of four recipients of the Victor Davis Memorial award, which is given each year to provide financial assistance for young Canadian swimmers.

The award was presented to her on Sunday before the start of the A finals.

Marek Poplawski, the head coach of the Glacier Bears, said he was pleased with how Gabor and Pasloski did at this year's Canada Cup.

"All of their swims were very good," he said. "I think both did very well. It's their first big meet of the season and it was fantastic."

Downing got off to a slow start at the Canada Cup, but improved in each of her swimming events after that, finishing with a silver medal in the 200-m fly.

Her other placings included 59th in the 100-m freestyle, 19th in the 50-m fly and seventh in the 100-m fly.