2022 Canadian Trials: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2022 CANADIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

• April 5th-April 10th, 2022
• Saanich Commonwealth Place, Victoria, BC
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Qualification Standards

FRIDAY FINALS HEAT SHEET

Tonight’s finals session will include the 200 fly, 100 free, 50 breast, para 100 fly and para 50 free.

After a solid morning swim of 2:09.80 in the women’s 200 fly, 15-year-old Summer McIntosh will be looking to go 3-for-3 on personal bests at this meet. On the first night of the meet, McIntosh broke the Canadian Record in the 400 free. Last night, she posted a decisive victory in the 200 free.

Josh Liendo looked great in the men’s 100 free this morning, clearly backing off towards the end of the race. He was already under the FINA ‘A’ cut in prelims, so hopefully hitting that time again won’t be an issue. We’ll see how close to 48.00 he can move tonight. Ruslan Gaziev, Finlay Knox, and Yuri Kisil also had promising 100 freestyles this morning, indicating a possible 4×100 free relay could be emerging.

Similarly, Penny Oleksiak and Kayla Sanchez were moving this morning in the women’s 100 free, both swimming under 54 seconds. Taylor Ruck may join them in the race for 1st tonight after clocking a 55.12 this morning.

WOMEN’S 100 FLY PARA – FINALS:

Podium:

1. Katie Cosgriffe (BAD), SB9 – 1:09.24
2. Emma Van Dyk (GHAC), SB14 – 1:12.49
3. Marina (BRANT), SB14 – 1:48.48

Katie Cosgriffe put together a great race, dipping under 1:10 after clocking a 1:10.99 this morning. She both posted the top time of the night, and is ranked 1st. Reminder: para events aren’t ranked by order of finish, rather there is a point system based off how close each swimmer’s time was to the World Record in their respective classes.

MEN’S 100 FLY PARA – FINALS:

Podium:

1. Nicholas Bennett (RAC), SB14 – 57.94
2. Matthew Cabraja (COBRA), SB11 – 1:07.32
3. Alexander Elliot (CNQ), SB9 – 59.94

Nicholas Bennett took home another title this week, chipping 1.33 seconds off his prelims time.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS:

• World Record – 2:01.81, Zige Liu, 2009
• Canadian Record – 2:05.81, Summer McIntosh, 2022
• FINA ‘A’ Standard – 2:09.21

Podium:

1. Summer McIntosh (ESWIM) – 2:07.60
2. Mabel Zavaros (MAC) – 2:11.68
3. Ella Jansen (ESWIM) – 2:12.86

15-year-old Summer McIntosh grabbed her 3rd individual title of these Trials, leading from basically the first stroke of the race on. McIntosh looked like she might be on record pace early on, splitting 1:00.17 on the first 100, with a 31.90 on the 2nd 50. She faded down the back stretch, however, splitting 1:07.43 on the 2nd 100. We don’t know what races McIntosh will ultimately choose to compete in in Budapest, but as of now, she’s qualified in the 200 free, 400 free, and now, the 200 fly.

Ella Jansen looked like she might be punching a ticket the World Championships through the first 150 of the race, but faded considerably on the final length. Jansen was hanging tough with McIntosh for a while, splitting 1:34.98 at the 150m mark, well under 2:10 pace. She split 37.88, fading into 3rd.

Mabel Zavaros swam a more conservative race, going out in 1:02.04 on the first 100. She then came home in 1:09.64, passing Jansen on the final 50 to finish 2nd.

MEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS:

• World Record – 1:50.73, Kristof Milak, 2019
• Canadian Record – 1:56.27, Mack Darragh, 2018
• FINA ‘A’ Standard – 1:56.71

Podium:

1. Patrick Hussey (PCSC) – 2:00.60
2. Benjamin Loewen (CREST) – 2:00.69
3. Michael Sava – 2:01.03

In an incredibly tight finish, both Patrick Hussey and Benjamin Loewen manufactured great back halves to get into the wall first. Hussey was 1:02.44 on the 2nd 100, while Loewen was 1:02.25. The pair was well off the FINA ‘A’ cut of 1:56.71.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – FINALS:

• World Record – 51.75, Sarah Sjostrom, 2017
• Canadian Record – 52.59, Penny Oleksiak, 2021
• FINA ‘A’ Standard – 54.25

Podium:

1. Kayla Sanchez (AAC) – 53.68
2. Penny Oleksiak (TSC) – 53.71
3. Taylor Ruck (SCAR) – 53.99

Swimming in a pack, Canada’s top 3 women’s sprinters roared to season bests across the board tonight. Kayla Sanchez picked up her first title of the week, swimming a 53.68. Canadian Record holder Penny Oleksiak was first at the turn, splitting 25.99. She briefly faded to 3rd (at least it looked like it) on the 2nd 50, but kicked it back in for the final 10 meters to power herself ahead of Taylor Ruck.

For Ruck, it was her first time under 54 seconds in the LCM 100 free since 2019. After qualifying for the 100 back individually, Ruck has now finished 3rd in the 200 free and 100 free, earning her spots on both relays at the World Championships (at least overwhelmingly likely that she’ll be on them).

MEN’S 100 FREE – FINALS:

• World Record – 46.91, Cesar Cielo, 2009
• Canadian Record – 47.27, Brent Hayden, 2009
• FINA ‘A’ Standard – 48.77

Podium:

1. Josh Liendo (NYAC) – 48.35
2. Ruslan Gaziev (ESWIM) – 48.41
3. Yuri Kisil (WS) – 48.80

Leading wire-to-wire, Josh Liendo took 0.25 seconds off his prelims performance to win another title this week. Swimming a 22.80 on the first 50, Liendo was in control. Even so, Ruslan Gaziev closed on him through the final 50 meters, propelling himself to a new personal best of 48.41 Yuri Kisil also improved on his morning swim, getting down to 48.80.

If there was any concern as to the state of Swimming Canada in the event after Canadian Record holder Brent Hayden announced his retirement, it should be put to rest. Both Liendo and Gaziev clocked top 8 times int he world tonight. Both also hit the FINA ‘A’ cut, and therefore, will be competing in the event at the World Championships this summer.

WOMEN’S 50 BREAST – FINALS:

• World Record – 29.30, Benedetta Pilato, 2021
• Canadian Record – 30.23, Amanda Reason, 2009
• FINA ‘A’ Standard – 31.22

Podium:

1. Rachel Nicol (UCSC) – 31.36
2. Avery Wiseman (OSC) – 31.48 (TIE)
3. Sophie Angus (UNCAN) – 31.48 (TIE)

Rachel Nicol picked up her first title of the meet, swimming a 31.36 to touch out Avery Wiseman and 100 breast champion Sophie Angus, who tied for 2nd. Although the 50 breast isn’t a selection event at this meet, Nicol still nearly hit the FINA ‘A’ cut of 31.22.

MEN’S 50 BREAST – FINALS:

• World Record – 25.95, Adam Peaty, 2017
• Canadian Record – 27.45, Scott Dickens, 2009
• FINA ‘A’ Standard – 27.33

Podium:

1. Apollo Hess (UOFL) – 27.78
2. James Dergousoff (UL) – 27.95
3. Gabe Mastromatteo (KSS) – 28.06

Swimming slightly slower than this morning, Apollo Hess won a tight race, getting his hands on the wall just ahead of James Dergousoff. Notably, Hes won the SCM 50 breast title at the USports Championships recently, marking his 2nd national title in the 50 breast in just a couple weeks.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE PARA – FINALS:

Podium:

1. Shelby Newkirk (LASER), SB5 – 34.20
2. Aurelie Rivard (CNQ), SB9 – 28.80
3. Arianna Hunsicker (UL), SB9 – 29.31

Shelby Newkirk took 0.4 seconds off her prelims time, clocking a 34.20, which scores as the highest swim in the field. Additionally, Newkirk broke the Canadian Record with her swim.

MEN’S 50 FREE PARA – FINALS:

Podium:

1. Felix Cowan (SAMAK), SB8 – 28.42
2. Jagdev Gill (UCRO), SB9 – 25.66
3. Matthew Cabraja (COBRA), SB11 – 28.85