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Ashley McMillan Lowers Pair of Canadian NAG Records To Close Out OJI

2021 Ontario Junior International

After breaking the 100 breaststroke mark on FridayAshley McMillan took down two more Canadian National Age Group Records over the weekend to close out the 2021 Ontario Junior International meet in Toronto.

McMillan, a 17-year-old out of the Greater Ottawa (GO) Kingfish, blasted her way to victory on Saturday in the women’s 100 backstroke, clocking 56.90 to erase Taylor Ruck‘s 15-17 NAG of 56.99 set in 2017.

McMillan, who came into the meet having never even broken a minute (1:00.08 best time, went 58.68 in the heats), also took down the OJI meet record of 57.63, set by Danielle Hanus in 2015.

The event marked a 1-2-3 podium sweep for GO, with Regan Rathwell the runner-up in 57.76 and Dylan Scholes taking third in 1:00.87.

Later in the Saturday session, McMillan added a big win in the women’s 200 breaststroke (2:23.97), annihilating her previous PB coming into the meet (2:32.94) while coming within a second of Kelsey Wog‘s 2015 meet record of 2:23.00. Wog is also the 15-17 NAG record holder at 2:21.62.

With four individual wins already under her belt (having also claimed the 50 back on Friday), McMillan made it a perfect six-for-six on Sunday, including resetting another NAG record in the 200 IM.

McMillan soared to a time of 2:06.57, smashing the previous NAG and meet record of 2:07.78 set by Sarah Darcel in 2016. McMillan came into the meet with a best time of 2:11.46, set at the 2019 OJIs.

The USC commit closed things off with a sixth individual victory on Sunday night, winning the women’s 50 breast in 31.16. Canada does not recognize NAG records in the stroke 50s.

McMillan also raced the prelims of the 400 IM before scratching the final on Friday. That race was won by Etobicoke’s Summer McIntosh, who didn’t enter any events over the weekend.

Her GO teammate Rathwell, a 2022 Tennessee commit, also broke a meet record on Sunday, winning the women’s 200 back in 2:04.17 to break the previous OJI mark of 2:05.40 set by Hanus in 2016.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

  • Etobicoke Swim Club’s Katrina Bellio followed up her wins in the 1500 free on Thursday and the 200 free on Friday by claiming the 400 free on Saturday, touhcing in 4:04.26, less than half a second off her PB set in November (4:03.79).
  • Fellow ESwim swimmer Ella Jansen had an impressive performance overall with seven podium finishes in seven events, with one win and six runner-up showings. On the weekend, Jansen won the 200 fly in a best time of 2:08.96, and added second-place finishes behind Bellio in the 400 free (4:07.13), Rathwell in the 200 back (2:08.63) and McMillan in the 200 IM (2:10.01).
  • Markham Aquatic Club’s Elan Daley, 16, swept the women’s 50 free (25.43) and 100 free (54.59) events, registering personal bests in both. Daley is the Canadian NAG record holder in the 11-12 50 free.
  • Yu Tong (Adam) Wu of the Surrey Knights Swim Club put on a clinic on the men’s side of the competition, making the podium in all eight of his races, four of which were victories. Wu won the men’s 200 free (1:47.67), 400 free (3:50.11), 800 free (8:05.59) and 200 fly (1:57.81).
  • Club Aquatique Montreal (CAMO) also had a noteworthy showing on the men’s side, as Loic Courville Fortin won the men’s 50 back (25.49) and 100 back (54.12), while Jeremy Koueiki topped the 100 breast (1:01.33) and 200 breast (2:11.68).

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Pacific Whirl
2 years ago

Sanchez holds the 200IM NAG in 2:04 from 2018.

Canuswim
Reply to  Pacific Whirl
2 years ago

Yes, Sanchez went 2:04 in Sheffield at 17, but not showing in Swim Canada’s records? Strange.

nuotofan
2 years ago

James Sutherland’s article is excellent as usual, but even his report can’t be fully exhaustive, considering the massive improvements of some Canadian youngsters, like 15 year-old Mia West (PBs demolished in 200 free, 100 fly, 200 fly, 50 free, 200 IM and 100 free), 16 year-old Ella Jansen and 14 year-old Maya Bezanson. Remarkable the 2.04.17 from Regan Rathwell in the 200 back.

Bo Swims
Reply to  nuotofan
2 years ago

Mia is the daugher of 1996 Olympian Riley Mants.

ScovaNotiaSwimmer
Reply to  Bo Swims
2 years ago

Wow, that makes me feel old 👵🏻

Noah
2 years ago

Backstroke/Breastroke is an unusual but very talented combo!

Julie
2 years ago

Both Ashley and Regan have recently started training at the HPC centre in Toronto. I wonder if the results we see here are partly because of that.

Yuppers
Reply to  Julie
2 years ago

Absolutely! Coaches/Trainers and the entire atmosphere/environment are top notch- best in the world.
Not too many get to train there – only the best of the best in Canada. If your good enough and fast enough…..go there!

Dee
Reply to  Julie
2 years ago

Is Ben Titley still head coach at HPC? He was Brilliant over here too – British Swimming losing him was a real shame (for us, clearly not for Canada haha).

Admin
Reply to  Dee
2 years ago

He is, at HPC-Toronto, specifically.

nuotofan
2 years ago

If I read well the results, McMillan has swum a huge 2.06.57 in the 200 IM, obviously with great back and breaststroke splits, but also a good 31 low in the final free leg.

Last edited 2 years ago by nuotofan
Dee
2 years ago

1.00.08 to 56.90? Wow. Canadian womens swimming is really keeping their golden generation rolling, and the men are finally picking up too.

Last edited 2 years ago by Dee
Bo Swims
Reply to  Dee
2 years ago

Some very fast swims out in Vancouver at the VPSC meet as well… our girls broke a NAG in the 4×50 Medley and just missed 4×50 Free (old record was a 2009 supersuit).

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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