Penny Oleksiak took the top seed in the women’s 100m butterfly this morning with a 57.38 performance, breaking the 15-17 Canadian Age Group record and coming within two-tenths of a second off the senior record.
Oleksiak’s time reset Noemie Thomas’ 15-17 age group mark of 57.96 that she set back in 2013.
At just 15-years-old, Oleksiak is in a great spot to make her first Olympic team, having already dipped under the FINA ‘A’ qualifying time. A first or second place finish tonight in finals and getting under the FINA ‘A’ time again will all but guarantee her a spot on Canada’s Olympic squad this summer.
Oleksiak was just shy of Katerine Savard’s senior Canadian record of 57.27 and will have to face off against both her and Noemie Thomas tonight.
Thomas swam a time of 57.60 this morning to take the second seed behind Oleksiak. Both were under the FINA ‘A’ qualifying time, so if they finish in a similar order tonight and are both able to get under that time, they should both be selected for the Canadian Olympic team under the priority 1 selection criteria.
Savard wasn’t far off either of the two swimmers with a 57.72 performance, and will likely be right in the mix tonight.
With all three under the FINA ‘A’ qualifying time it will be a battle tonight to the touch to see who will be going to Rio.
Oleksiak’s performance ranks her fifth in the world this season in this event. Thomas’ performance ties her as the 10th fastest swimmer in the world this season in the 100 fly.
2015-2016 LCM Women 100 FLY
SJOSTROM
55.48 *WR*OR
| 2 | Penny OLEKSIAK | CAN | 56.46 *WJR | 08/07 |
| 3 | Kelsi WORRELL | USA | 56.48 | 06/27 |
| 4 | Dana VOLLMER | USA | 56.56 | 08/06 |
| 5 | Xinyi Chen | CHN | 56.72 | 08/07 |
| 6 | Ying LU | CHN | 56.76 | 08/07 |
| 7 | Jeanette OTTESEN | DEN | 56.83 | 05/20 |
| 8 | Emma McKEON | AUS | 56.81 | 08/06 |
| 9 | Rikako IKEE | JPN | 56.86 | 08/07 |
| 10 | Noemie THOMAS | CAN | 57.02 | 04/05 |
If the meet so far is any indication look for a youngster to shock the favs. Kelsey Wog was very competitive at Trials last year at 15.
I don’t know much about Canadian swimming but how will their women,s medley relay do?
I know Taylor ruck swims backstroke
I don’t know their breaststroker.
Penny oleksiak could be their butterflyer
chantal van landeghem their freestyler
So who can take the breaststroke?
Canadian women,s swimming has never been as strong as it is now and they could be strong medal contenders in both freestyle relays especially the 4×100.
Rachel Nicol or Tera Van Beilen will likely qualify in the 100
Wow. Canadian women’s swimming has never looked as strong as now.
Another young star in the making.
Ruck last year. Now Oleksiak.
Her best times from last summer:
50 fly. 26.45
100 fly. 58.50
50 free. 26.02
100 free. 54.51
200 free. 1.59.92
Already 57.38 in the 100 fly today in prelims.
If she can improve in the same way her freestyle, it will support my opinion that Canada is a very strong medal contender in both freestyle relays in Rio.
Between Oleksiak and Ruck in Canada, Steenbergen in Holland, and Ikee in Japan. I reckon the women’s 100m free WJR is on high alert this week.
Her freestyle will be worth watching – Could really bring the Canadian 4×100 into the conversation, having four 53. girls.
World junior record?
That belongs to Chen Xinyi of China in 56.61.
The confusion is understandable given that SwimSwam’s rankings display Ikee’s time of 57.55 from Japan Swim as the WJR but yes, as NickH said, Chen Xinyi swam 56.61 in Incheon last year. Still only 18
Wow, 57.38 at 15 is incredible. That is faster than the legendary Mary T’s US age group record which many people believe is one of the stronger records on the books. In fact, that time is faster than any 18 and under in USA swimming history. To do that at 15 is awesome. I wish she was American.
wait so Savard wasn’t DQ as previously mentioned?
Wouldn’t her time be a new WOrld Junior Record?