2019 Canadian Swimming Trials: Day 5 Finals Live Recap

2019 CANADIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

The final night of action in Toronto will feature the 200 IM, 50 free, and the fastest heats of the women’s 800 and men’s 1500 free.

Sydney Pickrem seeks a third National title in the women’s 200 IM, while Kayla Sanchez potentially looks to add two individual events to her Worlds schedule (swimming both the 200 IM and 50 free) after qualifying in the 400 and 800 free relays earlier.

On the men’s side, Pan Pac bronze medalist Yuri Kisil comes in looking to hit the ‘A’ cut in the 50 free after missing it in the 100.

Women’s 150 IM – Para

Aly Van Wyck-Smart (SM2) dropped over 23 seconds from her prelim swim to win the women’s para 150 IM in 4:50.33. This was a new SM2 Canadian Record, and Nikita Ens set a new SM3 National Record in 4:38.50.

Women’s 200 IM – Para

Samantha Ryan (SM10) chopped off two seconds from prelims to win the women’s para 200 IM with a time of 2:41.85, and Katarina Roxon‘s (SM9) 2:45.81 was good to move her into second in terms of para points.

Men’s 200 IM – Para

Alexander Elliot (SM10) improved his morning swim of 2:19.11 down to 2:14.61 tonight to win the men’s para 200 IM.

WOMEN’S 200 IM Final

  • Canadian Record: 2:09.07, Sydney Pickrem, 2018
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 2:13.03
  1. Sydney Pickrem, UNCAN, 2:08.71
  2. Kelsey Wog, UMAN, 2:10.72
  3. Bailey Andison, PERTH, 2:11.33

Sydney Pickrem had another standout performance to pick up her third win of the meet in the 200 IM, breaking her Canadian Record for the win in a time of 2:08.71. That knocks off her 2:09.07 mark set last year and also puts her 2nd in the world for the season.

Kelsey Wog ran down Bailey Andison on the freestyle leg to claim 2nd in 2:10.72, a new personal best and also under the FINA ‘A’ standard to give her a second individual event at Worlds. Andison took over two seconds off her lifetime best for 3rd.

Mary-Sophie Harvey (2:12.75) was also under the ‘A’ cut in fourth.

MEN’S 200 IM Final

  • Canadian Record: 1:59.19, Keith Beavers, 2008
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 2:00.22
  1. Finlay Knox, MAVS, 2:01.30
  2. Cole Pratt, CASC, 2:01.51
  3. Robert Hill, UCSC, 2:01.70

In an incredibly tight race, Finlay Knox rallied on the freestyle with a 28.81 split to edge out the win in the men’s 200 IM, clocking a new personal best of 2:01.30.

Early leader Cole Pratt (2:01.51) also swam a new best time, as did 3rd place finisher Robert Hill (2:01.70).

WOMEN’S 800 FREE Timed Final

  • Canadian Record: 8:20.02, Brittany Maclean, 2014
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 8:38.56
  1. Mackenzie Padington, UNVAR, 8:36.38
  2. Emma O’Croinin, EKSC, 8:39.63
  3. Marit Anderson, UCSC, 8:42.35

Mackenzie Padington held the lead the entire way in the fastest heat of the women’s 800 free, finishing in a time of 8:36.38 to get well under the FINA ‘A’ standard of 8:38.56.

Coming off her breakout swim in the 400 free, 15-year-old Emma O’Croinin broke 8:40 for the first time to take 2nd in 8:39.63.

Men’s 1500 Free Timed Final

  • Canadian Record: 14:39.63, Ryan Cochrane, 2012
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 15:07.38
  1. Peter Brothers, UCSC, 15:27.16
  2. Michael McGillivray, ROD, 15:27.62
  3. Nicolas Masse-Savard, CAMO, 15:39.55

Ryley McRae was the early aggressor in the men’s mile, staying at the front of the race through about 900 metres. From there, it became a battle between Peter Brothers and Michael McGillivray.

Going head-to-head over the final 50, it was Brothers who prevailed with the win in a time of 15:27.16. McGillivray was less than half a second back in a new best time of 15:27.62, producing the fastest final 50 in the field at 27.90.

McRae ended up fifth in 15:46.68, as Nicolas Masse-Savard took third in 15:39.55.

Victor Johansson of Sweden had the 2nd fastest time overall from the early heats, clocking 15:27.52.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE Final

  • Canadian Record: 24.26, Taylor Ruck, 2018
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 25.04
  1. Maggie MacNeil, LAC, 25.40
  2. Sarah Fournier, CNQ, 25.45
  3. Kayla Sanchez, AAC, 25.55

Maggie MacNeil set yet another personal best to win the women’s 50 free in 25.40, lowering her 25.84 from the prelims. Coming into today she had never broken 26 seconds.

Sarah Fournier was just .05 back for 2nd in 25.45, and Kayla Sanchez took 3rd in 25.55.

No one got under the ‘A’ cut of 25.04, but since MacNeil and Sanchez are qualified for Worlds they could perhaps still swim this event individually there.

MEN’S 50 FREE Final

  • Canadian Record: 21.73, Brent Hayden, 2009
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 22.18
  1. Yuri Kisil, WD, 22.23
  2. Will Pisani, UNCAN, 22.30
  3. Mehdi Ayoubi, CAMO, 22.50

Yuri Kisil just misses the ‘A’ cut in the men’s 50 free but still picks up the national title in a time of 22.23, followed by Will Pisani who set a new best time in 22.30.

In fourth, Joshua Liendo set a new 15-17 NAG in 22.69.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE – PARA

Aurelie Rivard (S10) won the women’s 50 free for the para swimmers in a time of 27.84 (950 points), followed by Morgan Bird (S8) in 32.30 (780 points).

Men’s 50 Free – Para

Nicolas-Guy Turbide (S13) touched out Alexander Elliot (S10) by .01 in the men’s para 50 free, 25.50 to 25.51, getting him the win with 753 points to Elliot’s 748. Matthew Cabraja (S11) was 3rd in 27.95 (739 points).

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Julie
5 years ago

Really enjoyed the coverage of this event. Between rec TV and CBC everything was televised and for free! An interesting note- one of the commentators was Jason Pratt- Cole Pratt’s dad. He sure kept his cool during his sons races!

Marley09
5 years ago

More men (13) selected to the team than women (12). That seems, what’s the word, unusual?

Catherine
Reply to  Marley09
5 years ago

Bizarre in this #metoo era how swim Canada would not see how that looks. To put more men on the team despite the fact that the women outclassed the me in almost every single event

Bobc
Reply to  Catherine
5 years ago

Yes well with one notable exception none of the men made cuts for multiple events so there are more individuals with fewer total individual swims.

To send more women we’d need to have fewer multi-event qualifiers or qualifiers in events for which there were no competitoris under the A standard. 50Fr for example.

Or just select fewer men for the sake of selecting fewer men.

Yozhik
Reply to  Bobc
5 years ago

You didn’t get it. It is not about swimming it is about #metoo. 😀

Peyton
5 years ago

Congrats.

Scott Morgan
5 years ago

And, what, 35 years after Alex Baumann only 1 Canadian Men can swim a faster than his 2:01.4. The amazing Pickrem is nearly as fast as these lads. Oh, and Ledecky would have won the Men’s 1500 by 7 seconds. Startling lack of quality for men: Yay, Canadian women!

Tim
Reply to  Scott Morgan
5 years ago

So what. If you’ve got a 1:59 IM you’re free to go ahead and do it.

Northern SwimParent
5 years ago

Way to go Maggie!!!!!

Teddy
5 years ago

Pickrem has really become a solid medal prospect for 2020. Hopefully her twin (Overholt) can return to 2015 form for next year.

Ben
Reply to  Teddy
5 years ago

If she keeps improving like this, she could potentially even be a gold medal contender. I don’t see her being the favourite by 2020, but perhaps a contender.

Coach Mike 1952
5 years ago

Gotta love how the Canadians accept & respect the Para Athletes by combining their championships. Helps create that “homey” feeling I mentioned in another post.

Canadian Swimmer
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
5 years ago

I think we saw the Australians doing it this way first and borrowed their approach of integrating able bodied and Para Swimming championships.

Dee
Reply to  Canadian Swimmer
5 years ago

British Champs have also been doing for a number of years – Nice that it’s becoming more and more common.

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Canadian Swimmer
5 years ago

Cool!

Ben
Reply to  Canadian Swimmer
5 years ago

No matter who did it first, it’s still a really nice gesture and it would be nice to see more countries adopt it. In some ways the para-swimmers are even more impressive considering the extra physical challenges they need to push through.

Drew Christensen
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
5 years ago

Canada’s done it off/on for a long time. I competed in the 2008 Trials, as a para athlete, along with the able bodied trials, was a pretty amazing experience, seeing that sort of crowd for para races, it was unbelievably motivating.

Swimmer
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
5 years ago

USA needs to move para under USA swimming and combine it!!!!

Tim
Reply to  Swimmer
5 years ago

I would imagine the meet is simply too big already in terms if the number of competitors and spectators. If they can sell out both meets already why combine them

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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