The Toronto Pan American Games will commence tonight at 7 p.m ET for day four finals. Here are the top story lines for tonight:
SMOLIGA VS. THE CANADIANS
Olivia Smoliga broke the Pan American Games record in the 100m backstroke this morning with a time of 1:00.35. That’s the fastest she’s been since the 2012 Olympic Trials, and she looked good. The time and record aught to give her confidence heading into tonight’s final, which won’t be easy considering she’s going up against some very tough competitors.
Enter the Canadians; Dominique Bouchard and Hilary Caldwell finished 1-2 in the 200m backstroke earlier this meet with Caldwell absolutely destroying her competition. The deadly duo are back, and will be looking to add another 1-2 finish. Bouchard was a 1:00.44 this morning and Caldwell was a 1:00.97. Neither are typically prelim swimmers, so it’s likely Smoliga will need to go under one-minute if she wants to hold them off.
Although Smoliga, Bouchard, and Caldwell all have the experience to win, there are some other major players in the race. Brazil’s Etienne Medeiros and the United States’ Clara Smiddy are sure to be fast.
CAN THE BRAZILIAN PULL OFF AN UPSET?
Brazilian Guilherme Guido took the top seed in the men’s 100m backstroke over a relatively stacked field this morning, sporting a 54.04 at the touch that made him over three-tenths faster than his closet competitor.
The only problem for Guido is that his closest competitor happens to be the 2012 Olympic silver medallist in the 100m backstroke. American Nick Thoman hasn’t posted anything great this season, but that’s not to say that he’s not capable of doing so. He’s got experience on his side, and if he can win it when it counts here tonight, nothing else matters.
Eugene Godsoe is another good bet for a podium spot. He was not far off Thoman’s time this morning rocking a swift 54.38. Godsoe can throw down given the opportunity and he knows how to compete with some of the best guys in the world.
Argentinian Frederico Grabich and Canadian Russell Wood could both shock the crowd as well and get their hand on a wall in the top three.
WILDCARD WARNING, WHO WANTS IT MORE?
Whoever wants it more is going to take tonight’s final. There are so many talented individuals swimming who can all go faster than they did in prelims, that this finals order isn’t set in stone.
Kierra Janzen of the United States was the top seed this morning with a 4:11.82. Right behind her was Venezuelan Andreina Pinto in 4:12.43. The two of them were way ahead of their competition this morning with everyone else in the 4:15 range.
Manuelle Lyrio is fast; she’ll be in the final. Emily Overholt proved she’s in good shape; she’ll be in the final. Gillian Ryan rocked a sweet back-half this morning; she’ll be in the final.
This race will be a dogfight down to the touch.
HOW RESTED IS RYAN COCHRANE?
Anyone who has seen Ryan Cochrane this week can say with full confidence that he’s not shaved. Not shaved usually means not fully rested, although Cochrane looked very, very solid this morning.
Pulling out a 3:50.58, Cochrane was smooth and consistant, kept his stroke rate up, and made the swim look easy. He’s got the World Championships coming up so it’s completely possible that he’s not fully tapered and is saving his energy for that meet. If that’s the case, how fast can he go?
Leonardo De Deus of Brazil has been fast all week, and he will be right beside Cochrane tonight in the 400. Michael Klueh and Ryan Feeley of the United States can bring something to the table as can Jeremy Bagshaw.
If Cochrane isn’t fully rested, could somebody step up their game and get the better of the Olympic medallist?
HOW FAST CAN KATIE MEILI GO?
Katie Meili was wicked fast in prelims, dropping huge time from the Pan American Games record and her personal best. With a leading time of 1:05.64, Meili is currently the second fastest swimmer in the world this season.
After such an amazing performance like that in prelims, it begs the question of whether or not she’ll be able to repeat or better it in finals. There’s no saying where she’ll be. She’s had an amazing season, and it seems as though it’s up to her and the clock.
Meili is miles ahead of the field but that won’t stop Canadian Rachel Nicol and Jamaican Alia Atkinson from trying to run her down. Nicol, a former SMU swimmer, was the second fastest this morning with a 1:07.10. Atkinson was a 1:07.46, however he international experience alone tells us than when it comes to finals and adde pressure she steps things up.
BRAZILIAN DOMINATION BUT CAN RICHARD FUNK?
By all means the Brazilian breaststrokers are fast. Not just fast, but sub one-minute 100m breaststroke fast. Felipe Da Silva broke the 100m breaststroke Pan American Games record this morning with a time of 59.84. Coincidentally, that time ties the fastest Brazilian swimmer Felipe Lima has gone this year.
Lima will be right beside Da Silva in finals and will be looking to chase him down. Most likely, whoever is faster tonight will get the spot on the 4x100m medley relay in finals. Look for the two Brazilians to make their move.
Can Richard Funk? The world has been looking for an answer since the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and there’s potential for the answer to be revealed tonight. Funk will be in lane six after going a 1:00.80 this morning. If he can stick with the Brazilians and prove that yes, he can Funk, it could earn him a spot on the podium.
Jorge Murillo of Colombia will be beside him and will be trying to stop Funk from getting on the podium. It’s looking like bronze will be between the two of them.
WILL NATALIE COUGHLIN BE IN THE MIX?
As good as Natalie Coughlin looked this morning in her swim, there were plenty other speedsters that made their mark well ahead of hers. Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace is way out in front with the 24.31 Pan American Games record she swam this morning.
Madison Kennedy was sub 25-seconds with a 24.75, as was Etiene Medeiros with an identical time. Graciele Herrmann and Chantal Van Landeghem also broke 25-seconds, one swimmer who did not was Natalie Coughlin.
Coughlin was a 25.07, and will need to be well under 25-seconds if she wants to get on the podium tonight let alone take home a victory. There is so much speed in this final, it’s just not decided yet who exactly will be in the mix.
WHO CAN CRACK TOP FIVE IN THE WORLD RANKINGS?
The men’s 50m freestyle has the potential to be one of the fastest of the nights. Josh Schneider of the United States has the middle lane for tonight’s final, and this morning managed to post the 11th fastest time in the world this year.
Schneider was a 21.99, and to crack the top five in the world this year he will need to go a 21.89. Schneider isn’t the only one capable of making a time drop into that zone. Fellow American Cullen Jones has speed, and is the Olympic silver medallist in the men’s 50m freestyle from 2012.
The possibility for an American 1-2 finish is huge, however it won’t just be between them two. Argentinian Frederico Grabich has been fast all week. Bruno Fratus is a killer Brazilian sprinter, and George Bovell is never out of it.
always love seeing George Bovell race