The Canadian World Championship Trials began today in Victoria, BC. Events being swum were the 50 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 butterfly, women’s 1500 freestyle and Men’s 800 freestyle.
SwimSwam’s in-depth preview can be seen here.
Women’s 50 butterfly
After an extremely successful short course season it was no surprise to see Noemie Thomas of the UBC Dolphins/Vancouver National Swim Centre qualify first in a time of 26.50, which was one one-hundredth of a second slower than the Canadian record which is held by Katerine Savard. It should be a two women race this evening between Thomas and PPO’s Sandrine Mainville who qualified second in a time of 26.95.
Men’s 50 butterfly
UBC Dolphins Kelly Aspinall qualified first in a time of 24.16 and was the best Canadian by almost a full second. Aspinall should be challenged by Henrik Lindau of Sweden, who swims at Texas A & M. Lindau qualified second in a time of 24.69.
Women’s 200 freestyle
The women’s 200 freestyle should be a great race this evening with six Canadian Olympians qualifying for the final. Pointe Claire’s Samantha Cheverton was the only woman to break the two minute barrier to qualify first in a time of 1:59.72. Fellow Olympian Barbara Jardin qualified second in a time of 2:01.04.
Men’s 200 freestyle
Olympian Blake Worsley, who changed coaches at the beginning of the year, moving to Toronto to swim with Ben Titley, qualified first in a time of 1:49.85. Alec Page of Island Swimming qualified second in a time of 1:50.32 followed by 18 year old Aly Abdel-Khalik ESWIM who qualified in a time of 1:50.69, touching out his brother Hassaan who qualified fourth in a time of 1:50.85.
Women’s 100 backstroke
If there was any question that Dolphin Swimming’s Olympian Sinead Russell’s preparation would be effected negatively by her NCAA meet schedule she put that to rest by qualifying first in a time of 59.98 only three tenths of a second above her Canadian record. Pacific Sea Wolves Hilary Caldwell qualified second in a time of 1:01.13 with Brooklyn Snodgrass of the Cascade Swim Club qualifying third in a time of 1:01.25.
Men’s 100 backstroke
Olympian Charles Francis who represents PPO qualified first in a time of 55.19 followed by Kelly Aspinall who touched in a time of 55.77. Russell Wood of the Cascade Swim Club qualified third in a time of 56.01.
Women’s 200 butterfly
In what we have grown accustom over the last decade Audrey Lacroix of PPO qualified first in a time of 2:09.40. Lacroix was more than two seconds ahead of her competition with Brenna Maclean of the West Vancouver Otters qualifying second in a time of 2:11.83 and Katerine Savard qualifying third in a time of 2:13.86.
Men’s 200 butterfly
This should be a great race this evening with the top three athletes separated by only seven tenths of a second. David Sharpe of the Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club qualified first in a time of 2:00.27 followed by Mack Darragh of the Oakville Aquatic Club who qualified second in a time of 2:00.39 and Zack Chetrat of the Toronto Swim Club qualifying third in a time of 2:00.94.