2016 Canadian Olympic Trials: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2016 CANADIAN OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC TRIALS

• April 5-10
• Prelims: 10 a.m EST
• Finals: 7 p.m EST
• Live Results
• Psych sheets
• Live stream
• Olympic Qualifying Times
• Selection Criteria 
• World Rankings

We head into the second night of finals action with some exciting events on the docket. The women’s 100 back saw a Canadian record this morning from Kylie Masse in 59.17, so look for her to challenge that mark tonight and push to break 59 seconds. The battle for second should be very intriguing as well, as there will be about five women fighting for the 2nd spot and the 1:00.25 qualifying standard. The women’s 400 IM should also be exciting, with 2015 World Championship bronze medalist Emily Overholt competing in her first final of the trials. Canada will likely send two women in that event as well. After no man made the FINA-A standard last night, they will be looking to get a few qualified tonight. It won’t be easy, as no one was under the FINA-A mark this morning in either event, but Zack Chetrat in the 200 fly and Russell Wood in the 100 back both have best times under the standard.

The consolation finals will have some fast swimming as well, including American stars Ryan Murphy (100 back) and Elizabeth Beisel (400 IM) competing. Murphy went 53.66 this morning, while Beisel was 4:35.82. Both will be in the middle of the pool in the consolation heat for their respective event.

Men’s 200m Butterfly Final

• Olympic Qualifying Standard – 1:56.97
• Top Seed for Tonight – Nicolaas Dekker, 1:59.35
• Canadian Record – Zack Chetrat, 1:56.90 (2015)

1. Mack Darragh, 1:58.22
2. Nicolaas Dekker, 1:58.87
3. Zack Chetrat, 1:59.08

Oakville’s Mack Darragh picked up the win in the men’s 200 fly, touching in a best time 1:58.22. He previous best time was 1:58.52 from 2014. Unfortunately Darragh was unable to meet the Olympic qualifying standard of 1:56.97. Top seed coming into tonight Nicolaas Dekker was 2nd in 1:58.87, taking off nearly half a second from this morning. Surprisingly Pan Am silver medalist Zack Chetrat was 3rd in 1:59.08, well off his Canadian record time of 1:56.90. He was expected to come in and be under the standard, but clearly isn’t on the same form as he was last summer. 4th place went to Coleman Allen, who specializes in the 100m fly. He was 1st to the 100 in 55.54, but faded on the final 50 coming home in 34.02 for a time of 2:01.16.

2015 World Championship bronze medallist Jan Switkowski of Poland won the B-final in 1:56.25. 2nd went to New Zealand’s Mick Litherland in 1:58.22. The Kiwi swimmers are using this as their own Olympic Trials, as they can qualify if they make the FINA-A standard. Unfortunately Litherland was off the 1:56.97 mark by 1.25 seconds.

Women’s 100m Backstroke Final

• Olympic Qualifying Standard – 1:00.25
• Top Seed for Tonight – Kylie Masse, 59.17
• Canadian Record – Kylie Masse, 59.17 (2016)

1. Kylie Masse, 59.06 OQ NR
2. Dominique Bouchard, 59.96 OQ
3. Hilary Caldwell, 1:00.21

After smashing a five year old national record this morning Kylie Masse came in tonight and lowered her time even more, clocking 59.06 to break her record of 59.17 from this morning. Masse’s time moves her into 2nd in the world, behind only Australian world champion Emily Seebohm (58.34).

Second place went to Oakville’s Dominique Bouchard, who got under the FINA-A qualifying standard of 1:00.25 in 59.96. That swim qualifies Bouchard for her first Olympic team after narrowly missing four years ago, and is just 0.16 off her best time of 59.80 set at the 2015 World Championships. Hilary Caldwell was 3rd in 1:00.21, eclipsing her previous best time of 1:00.39 also set at the 2015 World Championships. Bouchard and Caldwell went 1-2 in this event at the 2015 Canadian Trials, while Masse was 3rd. Also cracking the 1:01 barrier tonight was Alexia Zevnik (1:00.72) and Danielle Hanus (1:00.97).

Men’s 100m Backstroke Final

• Olympic Qualifying Standard – 54.36
• Top Seed for Tonight – Russell Wood, 54.87
• Canadian Record – Pascal Wollach, 53.63 (2009)

1. Javier Acevedo, 53.67 OQ
2. Russell Wood, 54.47
3. Markus Thormeyer, 54.59

In the fifth men’s event of the meet we finally saw our first Olympic qualifier, as Markham’s Javier Acevedo dominated the field in the men’s 100 back, touching in 53.67 to qualify for his first Olympic team. He was well under the standard of 54.36. Acevedo took off a second and a half from his previous personal best which he set this morning (55.14). Acevedo was also just off of the national record of 53.63 set in 2009 by Pascal Wollach. That swim moves Acevedo into 13th in the world rankings, and is a great sign for Canada’s medley relay going forward.

The favorite coming in was Russell Wood, who had to settle for a distant silver in 54.47, just missing the 54.36 standard. Wood was about half a second off the best time he established last year of 53.96. Last night’s 200 freestyle winner Markus Thormeyer touched 3rd in 54.59, eclipsing 55 seconds for the first time. Jeremie Dezwirek from the University of California led through 50 metres in 26.24, but couldn’t hold off the others coming home as he touched 4th in 55.00.

Ryan Murphy from the University of California dominated the B-final in a blistering 52.57, the 4th fastest time in the world since the 2015 World Championships. It is also the fastest time in the world for 2016. His Cal teammate Jacob Pebley was 2nd in 53.85, and Daniel Torres of Mexico lowered his own 100 back national record in 55.98.

Women’s 400m IM Final

• Olympic Qualifying Standard – 4:43.46
• Top Seed for Tonight – Sydney Pickrem, 4:46.86
• Canadian Record – Emily Overholt, 4:32.52 (2015)

1. Sydney Pickrem, 4:38.34 OQ
2. Emily Overholt, 4:38.50 OQ
3. Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson, 4:43.87

In a race that saw numerous lead changes, Island Swimming’s Sydney Pickrem emerged victorious in the women’s 400 IM in 4:38.34, just out-touching Emily Overholt of UBC who was 2nd in 4:38.50. Both women crush the Olympic qualifying standard of 4:43.46. Overholt took a massive lead in the butterfly, and 3rd place finisher Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson made a massive move on the breaststroke taking the lead into the final 100. Pickrem also moved up a lot on the breaststroke, making it a three-woman race coming home. Seltenreich-Hodgson ran out of gas, and it was Pickrem and Overholt battling to the wall.

This result is eerily similar to the 2015 trials, as Pickrem won and Overholt was a close second posting very similar times. Though some might be concerned that Overholt was nearly six seconds off her Canadian record from last summer, she was 4:40.59 at this point last year, indicating she’ll be just fine this summer. Both will be dangerous at the Olympic Games. Those swims put Pickrem and Overholt 14th and 15th in the world rankings.

Seltenreich-Hodgson was 3rd in 4:43.87, and Tessa Cieplucha was 4th in 4:44.97.

In the B-final Elizabeth Beisel improved her morning swim of 4:35.82, touching in 4:35.59. That swim keeps her at 6th in the world since the 2015 World Championships.