On the third night of the Canadian World Championship Trials three more athletes were added to the team; Hilary Caldwell in the 200 backstroke, Noemie Thomas in the 100 butterfly, Russell Wood in the 200 backstroke and Coleman Allen in the 100 butterfly. Going into the final day of competition the Canadian team consists of 28 athletes.
Women’s 400 freestyle
After the morning swim it looked like there could be several girls in contention for the 400 freestyle crown and at the 200 meter mark that was the case. Barbara Jardin, the winner of the 200 freestyle, led at the halfway mark turning in a time of 2:04.93, with three girls close behind; Samantha Cheverton (2:05.12), Savannah King (2:05.28) and Brittany MacLean (2:05.35).
In the third 100 MacLean, who raced the 400 freestyle in London, fell off the pace while Cheverton took a slight lead over both King and Jardin. Cheverton held off King until the the final 50 where King split a 30.54, while Cheverton’s last 50 was swum in a time of 31.36.
Savannah King, Swimming Canada (Photo Credit: Tim Binning, theswimpictures)
King won the event in a time of 4:10.34, which is under the FINA B standard, but just over the FINA A standard of 4:09.81. Cheverton finished second in a time of 4:10.82 followed by Jardin who posted a time of 4:12.17.
You can watch a day in the life of Savannah King here.
Men’s 400 freestyle
It was no surprise that Ryan Cochrane swam the 400 freestyle well in front of the rest of the competition winning the event in a time of 3:47.08. That time that is faster than the 3:47.26 he posted in London, but no where near the time of Sun Yang who swam a 3:42.93 only a day ago.
It will interesting to see what Cochrane can do when he is racing with his peers in Barcelona this summer.
The race for second was a good between Island Swimming teammates Eric Hedlin, Will Brothers and Keegan Zanatta. Zanatta had a slight lead over his two teammates at the 200 meter mark, but that is when Hedlin made his move, taking the lead which he never relinquished.
Hedlin finished second in a time of 3:52.52 followed by Brothers who finished third touching in a time of 3:53.22.
Women’s 100 butterfly
Katerine Savard winner of the 100 butterfly
On the first night of competition Noemie Thomas broke Katerine Savard’s national record in the 50 butterfly posting a time of 26.35 and after this mornings prelims swim looked like she might have what it takes to break Savard’s 100 butterfly record on route to making the World Championships team, but Savard would not go away that easily.
Savard choose not swim in the 50 butterfly, but definitely showed up for the 100 butterfly. Thomas had qualified first in the prelims in a time of 58.36, only 39 one-hundredths of a second slower that Savard’s record, while Savard qualified second in the morning posting a time of 59.13.
Tonight was a different story, Savard led the race from beginning to end turning in a time of 27.02 and posting a final time of 58.06 just nine one-hundredths of a second over her own national record. Thomas was not far behind bettering her morning swim touching in a time of 58.31.
Both women were under the FINA A standard of 58.89, so will both swim the 100 butterfly in Barcelona.
Audrey Lacroix, who won the 200 butterfly earlier in the competition, finished third in a time of 59.17.
Men’s 100 butterfly
UBC Dolphins/Vancouver National Swim Centre’s Coleman Allen led the 100 butterfly from start to finish winning in a time of 53.57 well ahead of Edward Liu of the Toronto Swim Club who finished second in a time of 54.29.
Oakville’s Mack Darragh finished third in a time of 54.37.
Women’s 200 backstroke
With the way that Sinead Russell has been swimming at this competition it looked like she would sweep the backstroke events, even though she was swimming against fellow Olympian Hilary Caldwell in the 200 this evening. Caldwell had a different idea.
At the 100 meter mark Russell led Caldwell by seven one-hundredths of a second turning in a time of 1:02.77, that was the last time the two swimmers were close. Caldwell finished the final 100 meters in a time of 1:06.47, two seconds faster than Russell, to win the event in a time of 2:09.31.
Genevieve Cantin also had a great second half and overtook Russell for second, finishing in a time of 2:11.45 with Russell finishing third posting a time of 2:11.52. Both girls were slightly over the FINA A standard of 2:11.09.
Men’s 200 backstroke
The men’s 200 backstroke was a five man race between Russell Wood, Matthew Swanston, Jeremie DeZwirek, Jeffrey Swanston and Joe Byram. At the halfway point the younger Swanston, Jeffrey, had the lead turning in a time of 58.00 and from there it was a tight race to the finish. Russell Wood, who turned fifth at the 100, took a slight lead at the 150 mark and held on from there to win the event in a time of 2:01.01.
Matthew Swanston, who competed for Stanford in the 200 yard final at the NCAA Championships, finished second in a time of 2:01.07. Jeremie DeZwirek posted a time of 2:01.43 to finish third one one-hundredth of a second ahead of Jeffrey Swanston and seven one-hundredths of a second ahead of Joe Byram.
Women’s 50 breaststroke
Fiona Doyle of the University of Calgary took the women’s 50 breaststroke in a time of 31.35. Doyle who is of Irish descent was only eight one-hundredths of a second slower than the Irish National Record of 31.27 set by Sycerika McMahon in 2012.
Olympian Tera Van Belien finished second in a time of 31.40 followed by Chelsey Salli who finished third touching in a time of 31.55.
Men’s 50 breaststroke
Jason Block, another University of Calgary swimmer, took the men’s 50 breaststroke in a time of 28.03 just ahead of Warren Barnes who touched in a time of 28.05.
Richard Funk, who won the 100 breaststroke, finished third in a time of 28.20.