On night one of the 2012 Missouri Grand Prix, with many top Americans sitting the meet out, the Canadians took advantage to stamp their passports with 8 wins in the day’s 10 events, including a sweep of the relays.
Swim-of-the-Night honors goes to 18-year old Katerine Savard in the women’s 100 fly in 58.23. She’s the National Record holder in the event, and this time is within half-a-second of that swim (and the 4th-best of her career). She’s usually racing short course this time of year, but as a comparison of how good this swim was comparatively, it’s faster than her best short course meters time from last February.
Sam Cheverton and Julia Wilkinson took 1-2 in the women’s 200 free for Canada. in times of 1:58.46/1:58.68. For Cheverton, that’s a lifetime best, and for Wilkinson it’s very close. A 3rd Canadian, Barbara Jardin, took 3rd in 1:58.91.
The top-finishing American was 17-year old Chelsea Chenault in 1:59.68 for 4th. 14-year old Katie Ledecky in a lifetime best of 2:00.01. That left her just shy of becoming the 5th girl in the age group to break two minutes. Her preferred 400 and 800 will come on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
In the women’s 100 breaststroke, they upped the ante with a 1-4 finish. This was topped by Jillian Tyler in 1:09.05, which was a big backslide from her 1:08.41 in prelims. Tianna Rissling took 2nd in 1:09.27, and future Texas A&M Aggie Ashley McGregor was 3rd in 1:09.82.
The fastest American was Annie Chandler in 4th in a time of 1:10.85.
In the men’s 200 free, a stroke-for-stroke battle came down to a finger-tip as Canada’s Blake Worsley took the win in 1:49.08, with Darian Townsend taking 2nd in 1:49.09. Canadian Ryan Cochrane took 3rd in 1:50.13.
In the men’s 100 fly, Tyler McGill showed that he was seriously slow-playing the prelims. He was the only American to win a race on Friday, and his 52.85 moves him into the world’s top-5. McGill out-touched Auburn teammate Fred Bousquet, who represents France internationally. Bousquet’s 2nd-place time was 53.54, which is not a bad time but makes him only the 3rd-ranked Frenchman this season.
With Clement Lefert’s 53.0 from the Montpellier meet, Bousquet’s relay opportunities are waning. Cesar Cielo took 10th in 54.75.
Brazil’s Felipe Lima topped the men’s 100 breaststroke in 1:00.89. That’s a fantastic time for him at this point of the season. Eric Shanteau took 2nd in 1:01.11, and Mark Gangloff was 3rd in 1:01.45. Mike Alexandrov was DQ’ed in finals for an illegal double dolphin kick on his pullout, and afterwords he was very outspoken on the matter. He cited concerns taht USA Swimming should use the same video review judging criteria at these Grand Prix meets as they will use at the Olympic Trials and Olympics.
Great swim for 18 year old Alec Page in 400IM for the win!
also is there a video of alexandrov’s pullout?
what happened to kitajima?
Ok, these are canadian championships. The webcast has begun with 90 minutes too late. And this meet is during the night for me here in France. I wanted to watch some of the best young american girls but Allie Szekely and Becca Mann are not there. Katie McLaughlin is on a training mode. Only Katie Ledecky is there to swim fast. And she did it. Almost under the 2 minutes in her 200 free. A new PR. It’s a very good sign for the longest distances.