2016 ONTARIO JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL
- Dec 16-18
- Toronto – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Prelims 9:30 a.m ET
- Finals 6:00 p.m ET
At the 2016 Ontario Junior International Mary-Sophie Harvey has been absolutely on fire, taking down two national records in order to earn herself two wins here in Toronto.
Last night, Harvey won the 400m IM in a new Canadian record time of 4:26.42, bettering the 4:29.22 record held by Tanya Hunks since 2009 and the time that Sarah Darcel went at the Short Course World Championships in Windsor just last week.
Tonight, Harvey showed her speed in the 400m freestyle, taking down a 13-year-old NAG record set by Brittany Reimer back in December of 2003. Her time also bettered Savannah King’s 4:02.72 senior Canadian record that was set in 2012.
Harvey dropped a total of 13-seconds off her entry time, and over five-seconds off her prelims time in order to dip under Reimer’s 4:03.61 mark by over a full second. At the touch, Harvey was a 4:02.23 to also dip under King’s mark.
That swim marks Harvey’s second senior Canadian record of her career following last night’s record in the 400m IM.
Harvey’s time would have placed her fifth at last week’s short course world championships.
Following her stunning 400m freestyle tonight, Harvey swam a 2:24 in the women’s 200m breaststroke to finish second to Sarah Darcel.
On the men’s side one Canadian NAG record fell as Graysen Bernard, 14, managed to dip under 56-seconds in the 100m backstroke with a swift 55.96 performance. That time broke the previous NAG record of 56.80 set by Tai Long Singh of the Winskill Dolphins in November of 2014.
Pretty impressive Harvey and Darcel.
Harvey swam her 400 free NR (4.02.23) in negative split (2.02.58 at 200m, with a 29.29 last 50) and then hammered a 2.24.65 in the 200 breast with still a fast finish.
Darcel swam a lot of events (200 fly, 100 back, 200 breast, 4×100 free), and was capable of a 2.24.23 in the 200 breast and a 54.52 100 free split.
Canada women’s team is getting stronger and stronger.
They have had a number of good junior girls for at least 5 years or so now, but most of them just seemed to plateau at around 15 or 16. For some reason, over the last couple of years, the junior women are now continuing to improve and perform beyond the promise that they showed as a young junior.
I don’t know what has changed in Canadian swimming, especially on the women’s side, but if they could give their secret to French swimming, it would be very nice….
Hire a couple of no nonsense british guys impervious to criticism and let them do what they want. Raise selection standards then sit back and seeif kids respond.