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Richards Sizzles With Sprint Double, Pratt, Liendo, McIntosh Smash NAGs At OJI

2019 ONTARIO JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL

It was another very fast day of racing at the Ontario Junior International meet in Toronto, as three meet records went down in addition to some Canadian and British age marks.

After a very impressive win last night in the 200 freestyle, tying the meet record in 1:43.64, Great Britain’s Matt Richards had another outstanding showing on night two.

The 16-year-old first broke the men’s 50 free meet record in the prelims, clocking 21.65 to erase Joshua Liendo‘s 21.67 mark from last year. Richards lowered it again in the final, getting all the way down to 21.38.

Liendo won silver in 21.45, taking down his Canadian 15-17 age record set last year (that same 21.67).

Richards followed up later in the session by winning the men’s 50 fly, clocking 23.27 to edge out Finlay Knox (23.47).

Also completing the 50 double was last night’s 100 fly winner Hanna Henderson of Etobicoke, who claimed the women’s 50 free (24.90) and 50 fly (26.83).

Her swim in the 50 free was almost a full second under her best coming into the meet of 25.81, having dropped down to 25.08 in the prelims before breaking into the 24s tonight. Then in the 50 fly, she cracked 27 for the first time officially after taking her 100 out in 26.98 on night one.

In addition to Liendo, Summer McIntosh and Cole Pratt also set new Canadian NAGs on the night, just like they did on day one.

McIntosh had an incredible win in the women’s 200 fly, posting a time of 2:10.40 to take out Emily Overholt‘s 2012 13-14 NAG of 2:12.12. The 13-year-old McIntosh came into the day with a PB of 2:18.03, and had taken three seconds off that in the heats (2:15.01) before chopping another four and a half off in the finals.

Pratt, who scratched the final of the 200 fly at the start of the session, blasted a 51.57 to win the men’s 100 backstroke, erasing Javier Acevedo‘s 2015 meet and 15-17 NAG of 51.63 off the books. Pratt’s old best was 52.70 from last month.

OTHER WINNERS

  • GBR’s Edward Mildred went wire-to-wire in the men’s 200 fly, clocking 1:55.48 to lower his best of 1:55.85 in the heats.
  • 15-year-old Regan Rathwell of the Greater Ottawa Kingfish won the women’s 100 back in a time of 59.08 after going sub-1:00 for the first time in prelims (59.92). Great Britain’s Medi Harris was second in 1:00.16.
  • Etobicoke’s Katrina Bellio topped the women’s 400 free field in 4:08.14, going well under her previous best of 4:10.71 set last month. Brit Tamryn Van Selm was the runner-up in 4:12.14.
  • After opening the meet with a win in the 800 on day one, Nepean’s David Quirie picked up a second victory in the men’s 400 free, blasting back-to-back best times in prelims (3:49.89) and finals (3:48.14). Whitby’s Alexander Axon took second in 3:50.80.
  • Emma Spence of Team Sask won the women’s 200 breaststroke in 2:28.70, just off her morning swim of 2:28.11.
  • 18-year-old Kyle Booth of Great Britain had a strong showing to the men’s 200 breast in 2:09.90, holding his final three 50s within 0.13 of each other (33.23/33.36/33.33). Kenora’s Gabe Mastromatteo, who won the 100 last night, touched second in 2:11.35, using a 32.82 last 50 to edge out Pointe-Claire’s Moncef Balamane (2:11.59).
  • The Etobicoke women made it 2-for-2 in the relays as they claimed the 4×100 free in a time of 3:43.10. Bellio, McIntosh and Henderson were joined by Elan Daley. Henderson’s 54.01 was the fastest split in the field.
  • The Pointe-Claire men followed suit, winning their second straight relay in the men’s 4×100 free. Edouard Fullum-Huot led off in 50.11, and then Stanford LiMaxim Maximenco and Patrick Hussey all went 51 as they touched first by over three seconds. Quirie had the fastest flying split in the field for Nepean in 50.08.

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Sapnu puas
4 years ago

Oooof. Richards went 47.45 this morning, could he dip under 47 in the final or is that unrealistic? Also are his starts good for his age or just genuinely good because he is taking a lot out of everyone at the very start. Whittle continues to be a freak of nature and went 48.71.

Jeff
Reply to  Sapnu puas
4 years ago

His starts are probably good because he probably knows that if he EVER wants to challenge Dressel he is going to need a great start.

nuotofan
4 years ago

Amazing swims also in the second day of competition: McIntosh in the 200 fly, Pratt in the 100 back, Bellio in the 400 free, Richards, Liendo and Whittle in the 50 free (towards an intriguing 100 free tonight with also Mildred racing), Richards and Knox in the 50 fly. Only two words on Richards: in these last few months he has developed a great start and underwaters. Almost impossible continuing to improve in such a way, but what to expect come April trials?

Jeff
4 years ago

Richards is looking great!! Thought heading into the meet that he could qualify for the 100 free for Tokyo next year but now I think he may qualify for the 50 as well.

COVFEFE
4 years ago

If McIntosh keeps improving and can convert her SCM success into LCM, maybe we’ll have a surprise youngest member of the Olympic team… 200 Fly is wide-open on the women’s side.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
4 years ago

OK is that time from Richards an 18 in SCY? I feel like it is

Sapnu puas
4 years ago

Oh ok. Richards really is going to be coming for that ticket to Tokyo huh? You love to see it!

Dee
4 years ago

Matt Richards man; 21.38/1.43… 16 year old under 47s in the 100 tomorrow? Whittle is frightening too – Matched Liendo & Richards in the water, just lost the best part of a body length in the first 15m. Still, 22.1 is amazing at his age.

Brian Zhang
4 years ago

Canada looking absolutely amazing for the next few olympic cycles. Mastromatteo, Liendo, Pratt, and Knox for the guys are looking ready for a big break on the international stage.

Dee
Reply to  Brian Zhang
4 years ago

Really like Knox; No obvious weaknesses watching him swim today; good skills, great technique – Watching him closely.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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