2022 Canadian Trials: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2022 CANADIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

• April 5th-April 10th, 2022
• Saanich Commonwealth Place, Victoria, BC
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Qualification Standards

TUESDAY FINALS HEAT SHEET

The first finals session of the 2022 Canadian Trials is here, and with it we’ll see finals of the women’s and men’s 200 IM, 100 back, and 400 IM, plus the para 50 breast and 100 breast.

The field was tight in the women’s 200 IM this morning, with Mary-Sophie Harvey posting the top time with a 2:13.41. Sydney Pickrem and Bailey Andison are the only swimmers in the field who have been under 2:10 in the event before, so we’ll see if they can clinch the World Champs roster spots here tonight.

Kylie Masse wasted no time this morning, swimming the #2 time in the world this year to lead the women’s 100 back. Conversely, 15-year-old Summer McIntosh swam a relaxed looking 4:08 to lead the women’s 400 free this morning, so we’ll be looking for her to get down closer to her 4:02.42 Canadian Record tonight.

MEN’S 50 BREAST PARA – FINALS:

Podium:

1. Jacob Brayshaw (KISU), SB2 – 2:00.01

Jacob Brayshaw downed his morning time by 4.33 seconds to earn the national title in the men’s 50 breast.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST PARA – FINALS:

Podium:

1. Tess Routliffe (UL), SB7 – 1:33.80
2. Katarina Roxon (AASC), SB9 – 1:25.03
3. Abi Tripp (CNQ), SB7 – 1:36.44

Final results are determined by the points, rather than final time in para swimming. The points system is based off how close the swimmer gets to the World Record for each class. That being said, Tess Routliffe took 3 seconds off her prelims performance, swimming a 1:33.80 to win the title.

MEN’S 100 BREAST PARA – FINALS:

Podium:

1. Nicholas Bennett (RAC), SB14 – 1:05.65
2. James Leroux (UL), SB9 – 1:11.81
3. Jagdev Gill (UCRO), SB9 – 1:16.60

After breaking the Canadian Record this morning, Nicholas Bennett nearly did it again, taking the title in 1:05.65.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINALS

• World Record – 2:06.12, Katinka Hosszu, 2015
• Canadian Record – 2:08.61, Sydney Pickrem, 2019
• FINA ‘A’ Standard – 2:12.98

Podium:

1. Sydney Pickrem (TSC) – 2:10.58
2. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAMO) – 2:10.98
3. Tessa Cieplucha (MAC) – 2:12.03

Youngster Ashley McMillan pushed the pace early, getting out to a lead on fly with a speedy 27.60 split, then expanding her lead on the backstroke leg. Veterans Sydney Pickrem and Mary-Sohpie Harvey were able to run McMillan down on the breast leg, however, both turning ahead of McMillan for freestyle. Tessa Cieplucha made a late charge, but was unable to get up with the leading duo. She did, however, get in ahead of McMillan, who finished 4th in 2:13.02.

Canadian Record holder Sydney Pickrem got the job done, taking over on the breaststroke leg and battling Mary-Sophie Harvey into the finish. Pickrem’s time tonight is the fastest time in the World in 2022, while Harvey’s is good for 4th. For the 2021-2022 season, which began on Septemeber 1, 2021, Pickrem’s time is 3rd in the world, Harvey 6th.

Notably, both Mary-Sophie Harvey and Ashley McMillan are slated to race in the A final of the 100 back later in the session.

MEN’S 200 IM – FINALS:

• World Record – 1:54.00, Ryan Lochte, 2011
• Canadian Record – 1:58.07, Finlay Knox, 2021
• FINA ‘A’ Standard – 1:59.76

Podium:

1. Finlay Knox (SCAR) – 1:57.50
2. Collyn Gagne (SFA) – 2:00.37
3. Benjamin Loewen (CREST) – 2:03.48

Finlay Knox got out to the early lead, getting himself under Canadian Record pace on the first 50 of the race. He then clocked a 30.06 backstroke split to get himself under the Canadian Record by 6-tenths at the halfway mark. A 34.50 breast split and 28.23 free split got Knox into the finish in 1:57.50, bringing the Canadian Record under 1:58 for the first time.

Collyn Gagne put together a great back half, even slightly out-splitting Knox on breaststroke with a 34.26. He posted a huge new personal best of 2:00.37. Unfortunately, his time wasn’t under the FINA ‘A’ cut of 1:59.76, so he won’t be on the World Champs roster in the event.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK – FINALS:

• World Record – 57.45, Kaylee McKeown, 2021
• Canadian Record – 57.70, Kylie Masse, 2021
• FINA ‘A’ Standard – 1:00.59

Podium:

1. Kylie Masse (TSC) – 58.48
2. Taylor Ruck (SCAR) – 59.67
3. Ingrid Wilm (CASC) – 59.75

Canadian Record holder Kylie Masse left little doubt that she would be punching her ticket to the World Champs in this event, getting out to a lead almost immediately. After swimming the #2 time in the world this year in prelims (58.41), Masse matched the swim, coming in at 58.48 tonight.

Taylor Ruck swam a fairly lackluster 1:00.73 in prelims this morning, but was able to turn it on tonight, edging out Ingrid Wilm at the finish. Ruck swam a 59.67, just ahead of Wilm’s 59.75.

Notably, Mary-Sophie Harvey displayed her toughness, coming back after qualifying for the World Champs team in the 200 IM shortly before. She raced to a 4th place finish with a 1:00.90.

MEN’S 100 BACK – FINALS:

• World Record – 51.85, Ryan Murphy, 2016
• Canadian Record – 53.35, Markus Thormeyer, 2019
• FINA ‘A’ Standard – 54.03

Podium:

1. Javier Acevedo (MAC) – 54.37
2. Blake Tierney (GOLD) – 54.62
3. Tayden De Pol (UBCT) – 55.87

It was a tight finish between Javier Acevedo and Blake Tierney, with Acevedo getting his hand on the wall first in 54.37. The time matches Acevedo’s 2021 season best of 54.31.

Unfortunately, none of the men in this final were under the FINA ‘A’ standard, meaning they are not eligible to compete in the event at World Champs. Acevedo could potentially be named to a medley relay, however, if Canada is able to qualify one.

It’s worth mentioning again that this race was notably without Canadian Record holder Markus Thormeyer, and rising star Cole Pratt, both of whom stood excellent chances of qualifying for Worlds.

In the B final, Polish swimmer Kacper Stokowski, who trains at NC State University in the U.S., edged out Greek national Evangelos Makrygiannis at the finish. Stokowski clo0cked a 54.17, Makrygiannis 54.43.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE – FINALS:

• World Record – 3:56.46, Katie Ledecky, 2016
• Canadian Record – 4:02.42, Summer McIntosh, 2021
• FINA ‘A’ Standard – 4:10.57

Podium:

1. Summer McIntosh (ESWIM) – 4:01.59
2. Katrina Bellio (ESWIM) – 4:11.06
3. Ella Jansen (ESWIM) – 4:11.15

15-year-old phenom Summer McIntosh broke the 2nd Candian Record of the session, roaring to a 4:01.59. With the swim, McIntosh has now become the fastest Canadian ever by a larger margin. She has also risen to #11 all-time in the event worldwide. McIntosh’s time puts her 3rd in the world this year, behind only Ariarne Titmus and Katie Ledecky, the top two performers all-time in the event.

Behind McIntosh, it was the fellow junior swimmers who showed out. Katrina Bellio clocked a personal best of 4:11.06 to finish 2nd, while Ella Jasen swam took 5 seconds off her personal best to finish 3rd in 4:11.15

Emma O’Croinin, the #2 seed coming into the meet, and the only swimmer outside of McIntosh who has been under 4:10 before, swam a 4:15.14 tonight.

MEN’S 400 FREE  – FINALS:

• World Record – 3:40.07, Paul Biedermann, 2009
• Canadian Record – 3:43.46, Ryan Cochrane, 2014
• FINA ‘A’ Standard – 3:48.15

Podium:

1. Jeremy Bagshaw (ISC) – 3:52.01
2. Alex Axon (MAC) – 3:52.07
3. Eric Brown (PCSC) – 3:52.70

In an absolute barnburner, Jeremy Bagshaw just managed to get his hand on the wall first, swimming a 3:52.01. The veteran was 1.64 seconds faster than this morning, winning the national title. Unfortunately, the FINA ‘A’ standard sits at 3:48.15, well ahead of anyone in the field tonight.