2023 Canadian Trials: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2023 CANADIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

We’re back with another day of action at the 2023 Canadian trials, which serve as a selection meet for the 2023 Canadian world championships meet. On Friday night, finals of the 200 fly, 100 free, 50 breast, as well as the para 100 fly and 50 free will be contested

The two big headliners of tonight are the top seeds in the men’s and women’s 200 fly, Ilya Kharun and Summer McIntosh. Kharun is coming in as the top seed in arguably his best event, and looks to further lower his best time of 1:54.49. Meanwhile, McIntosh will be aiming for her third record of the meet after breaking the 400 free world record and the 200 IM world junior record early on.

Another race to look out for is the 100 free, where top seeds Maggie MacNeil and Josh Liendo will lead their respective fields. In the women’s 100 free, there is opportunities for newcomers to potentially break out with Canada’s staple 100 freestylers Penny Oleksiak and Taylor Ruck not racing at this meet. Meanwhile, Liendo looks to better his time of 48.65 from the morning and inch closer and closer towards Brent Hayden’s Canadian record.

PARA WOMEN’S 100 FLY MULTI-CLASS – FINALS

Podium:

  1. Katie Cosgriffe — 1:10.05
  2. Mary Jibb — 1:13.52
  3. Angela Marina — 1:11.52

After taking top seed after prelims, Katie Cosgriffe won finals in a time of 1:10.05, a bit over a second slower than her time in the morning. Mary Jibb had a big swim for second, dropping seven seconds from her prelims time, while Angela Marina placed third.

PARA MEN’S 100 FLY MULTI-CLASS – FINALS

Podium:

  1. Nicholas Bennett — 58.25
  2. Alexander Elliot — 59.23
  3. Philippe Vachon — 1:10.40

Multi-event Canadian record holder Nicholas Bennett won yet another para race, taking the 100 fly in a time of 58.25. He was 0.07 seconds slower than his prelims time but still won by nearly a second nonetheless. Alexander Elliot was the other man in the field under a minute and finished second, while Philippe Vachon took third.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS

  • World Record – 2:01.81, Zige Liu (China) – 2009
  • Canadian Record – 2:05.05, Summer McIntosh – 2023
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut – 2:09.21

Top 3:

  1. Summer McIntosh — 2:04.70
  2. Katie Forrester — 2:10.99
  3. Mabel Zavaros — 2:12.69

16-year-old Summer McIntosh continued her tear on the world junior record book, clocking a 2:04.70 to break her old record by 0.35 seconds. She is now the eighth-fastest performer of all-time in the event, and the 11th woman in history to break the 2:05-point barrier.

McIntosh went out extremely quick with a 58.76 first 100, similar to how she took out her 400 free. However, she paid for it on her back half, swimming a 1:05.94 on her last 100.

Katie Forrester had a late surge in her race to take second, swimming a 2:10.99 and getting within two seconds of the FINA ‘A’ cut. Mabel Zavaros took third in 2:12.69. However, with no swimmers beside McIntosh under the ‘A’ cut, no additional Canadians will qualify for worlds in this event.

MEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS

  • World Record – 1:50.34, Kristof Milak (Hungary) – 2021
  • Canadian Record – 1:54.49, Ilya Kharun – 2023
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut – 1:56.71

Top 3:

  1. Ilya Kharun — 1:54.74
  2. Patrick Hussey — 1:59.54
  3. Ben Miller — 1:59.64

Ilya Kharun was dominant from start to finish in this 200 fly race, swimming a 1:54.74 to barely miss his Canadian record mark of 1:54.49 by 0.25 seconds. He swam his race very similarly to McIntosh, going out super fast with 25.23/29.00 splits (54.23) and then closing in a 29.91/30.60 (1:00.51).

Finishing in second was UNC swimmer Patrick Hussey, who overtook Ben Miller on the last 50 and beat him for second by a margin of 0.1 seconds. Miller placed third with a time of 1:59.64, which is just 0.15 seconds off his best time.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – FINALS

  • World Record – 51.71, Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden) – 2017
  • Canadian Record – 52.59, Penny Oleksiak – 2021
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut – 54.25

Top 3:

  1. Maggie MacNeil — 54.58
  2. Mary Sophie-Harvey/Brooklyn Douthwright — 55.15

Katerine Savard took her race out very quickly and was first at the 50 with a 26.32 split, but she was passed on the back half and it was Maggie MacNeil who came out in first. MacNeil was the only woman under 55 seconds in this race, swimming a 54.58 to win by over a second.

Mary Sophie-Harvey and Brooklyn Douthwright tied for second with a time of 55.15. Harvey improved upon her best time of 55.39, while Douthwright tied her PB from Olympic trials two years ago. With no swimmers underneath the FINA ‘A’ cut, only MacNeil will qualify for worlds in the 100 free as she placed first and got under the secondary standard time of 54.79.

Savard ended up in fifth with a time of 55.22.

MEN’S 100 FREE – HEATS

  • World Record – 46.86, David Popovici (Romania) – 2022
  • Canadian Record – 47.27, Brent Hayden – 2009
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut – 48.51

Top 3:

  1. Josh Liendo — 47.86
  2. Javier Acevdeo — 48.50
  3. Edouard Fullun-Hout — 49.43

For the first time tonight, two swimmers got underneath the FINA ‘A’ cut, with Josh Liendo and Javier Acevedo going 1-2 with times of 47.86 and 48.50 respectively. Liendo was just a few tenths off his PB of 47.55 from the 2022 World Championships, while Acevedo swam just 0.13 seconds slower than his own personal best. Both swimmers are qualified to swim the 100 free individually at World Championships.

In third was Edouard Fullun-Hout with a 49.43, while Finlay Knox finished 0.07 seconds behind with a 49.50.

WOMEN’S 50 BREAST – FINALS

  • World Record – 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (Italy) – 2022
  • Canadian Record – 30.23, Amanda Reason – 2009

Top 3:

  1. Sophie Angus — 31.13
  2. Rachel Nicol — 31.14
  3. Sydney Pickrem — 31.49

100 breast champion Sophie Angus made it a sprint breaststroke sweep, as she swam a 31.13 to just out-touch Rachel Nicol by 0.01 seconds to win the 50 breast. Angus dropped 0.13 seconds off her previous best time of 31.26 that was set over three years ago back in July 2019.

In third was Sydney Pickrem, who swam a 31.49.

MEN’S 50 BREAST – FINALS

  • World Record – 25.95, Adam Peaty (Great Britain) – 2017
  • Canadian Record – 27.45, Scott Dickens – 2009

Top 3:

  1. James Dergousoff — 27.76
  2. Gabe Mastromatteo — 27.87
  3. Brayden Taviassalo — 28.08

The men’s 50 breast also saw a tight race, with 100 breast champ James Dergousoff touching the wall 0.11 seconds ahead of  Gabe Mastromatteo to take the win. Dergousoff dropped 0.06 seconds from his personal best of 27.83 from the 2022 Commonwealth Games, while Mastromatteo was a few tenths off of his PB of 27.53.

Texas commit and 200 breast champ Brayden Taviassalo was third in a time of 28.08, dropping from his best time of 28.31 set recently at the Ft. Lauderdale pro swim series.

PARA WOMEN’S 50 FREE MULTI-CLASS – FINALS

Podium:

  1. Shelby Newkirk — 33.96
  2. Auriele Rivard — 28.58
  3. Arianna Hunsicker — 28.71

Shelby Newkirk had a big swim to win this 50 free race, dropping nearly a second from her prelims time. Meanwhile, Auriele Rivard and Arianna Hunsicker posted a pair of 28-points to take second and third respectivley.

PARA MEN’S 50 FREE MULTI-CLASS – FINALS

Podium:

  1. Nicholas Turbide — 24.35
  2. Philippe Vachon — 29.40
  3. Jagdev Gill — 26.05

Nicholas Turbide won this race and also posted the fastest overall time in this field, swimming a 24.35 and dropping 0.39 seconds from his prelims time. Finishing behind him were 100 fly third place finisher Philippe Vachon and Jadgdev Gill, who placed second and third..

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Hank
11 months ago

Zige Liu supersuited WR is unbeatable.

phelpsfan
11 months ago

So this is the only qualification meeting? Let’s say Oleksiak and Ruck go under the FINA A standard in the 100m freestyle at Mare Nostrum, would they qualify for Worlds individually?

Last edited 11 months ago by phelpsfan
Troyy
Reply to  phelpsfan
11 months ago

They both already have the QT from last year.

phelpsfan
Reply to  Troyy
11 months ago

So if both are ready to go, then they’ll most likely make the team?

Troyy
Reply to  phelpsfan
11 months ago

“The High Performance Director may at his sole discretion select eligible Swimmers where space remains in individual events or may select Swimmers to enhance relays.”

https://www.swimming.ca/content/uploads/2023/02/FINA-World-Championships-Pool-2023-approved-1.pdf

phelpsfan
Reply to  Troyy
11 months ago

I read the document I must’ve missed the “where space remains in individual events”

Juggo
11 months ago

Javier Acevedos feet smell

Eli
11 months ago

Honestly, that 4×100 FR for women is deceiving. If Ruck and Oleksiak are selected from the Mare Nostrum, and McIntosh is on it, it really will probably be MacNeil, Ruck, Oleksiak, and McIntosh

commonwombat
Reply to  Eli
11 months ago

That is still a medal quality 4X100 if all are in decent form. However, the loss of Sanchez exposes their lack of depth and they now have minimal scope for resting their peak quartet for heats. They could conceivably get away with resting one but no more than that.

phelpsfan
11 months ago

Predictions for McIntosh’s 400 IM?

frug
Reply to  phelpsfan
11 months ago

Pain.

Admin
Reply to  phelpsfan
11 months ago

4:27.97

phelpsfan
Reply to  phelpsfan
11 months ago

I’ll say a 4:27.57

Philip Johnson
11 months ago

I don’t like invoking the name, but McIntosh’s versatility reminds me of Phelps.

Chad
Reply to  Philip Johnson
11 months ago

I mean she has real potential to win gold medals across 5 individual events by the time Paris rolls around (400 free, 200 free, 200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM). I don’t believe anyone else has done that besides MP so the comparison is warranted. She excites the crap out of me.

Ben
Reply to  Chad
11 months ago

For all we know, she’ll improve in the sprint events over time as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s at least good enough in the 100s to contribute in a relay.

Mike McCormack
Reply to  Chad
11 months ago

The beauty is in… her person. So composed and clearly- and well-spoken; so appropriate and cheerful and non-self-referential. It IS exciting to share her world. 2:04.70. Whew. When is her last non-PB?! I can’t think of it! Good grief, it just tends more and more to the difficult to assimilate. Congrats, all of the McIntosh team…. parents, relatives, coaches, trainers, teammates. It’s looking most grand. More power to you in your place at the current helm, Coach Brent!

Riser
Reply to  Mike McCormack
11 months ago

You have a way with words sir that remind me of my old English teacher back in grade 11.

Very impressive!

Stephen Strange
Reply to  Philip Johnson
11 months ago

You’re not wrong

hafis
11 months ago

I actually expected Liendo to be faster in both free events after that 50.36 fly. Great swims though.

phelpsfan
11 months ago

Throughout the Day 4 of the Canadian Trials, there is still a couple of notable swimmers not yet qualified

Smith, Cieplucha, Andison, Dergousoff, Nicol, Mastromatteo, Bellio, Dunford and Gasiev. There is also Ruck and Oleksiak, but neither are competing at these trials and both will probably get spots in the relays should they decide to compete at Worlds.

Am I missing anyone?

Last edited 11 months ago by phelpsfan
Eli
Reply to  phelpsfan
11 months ago

I’d say that O’Cronin is also a notable swimmer, bronze medal at Worlds in 2019.

Troyy
Reply to  phelpsfan
11 months ago

Maybe they’ll also give Ruck and Oleksiak the individual 100 free spots because they’re the only swimmers with the QT in the qualifying period.

Sub13
Reply to  Troyy
11 months ago

I agree. The selection criteria expressly says you’re not guaranteed selection for a particular event even if you win, just selection for the team.

About Yanyan Li

Yanyan Li

Although Yanyan wasn't the greatest competitive swimmer, she learned more about the sport of swimming by being her high school swim team's manager for four years. She eventually ventured into the realm of writing and joined SwimSwam in January 2022, where she hopes to contribute to and learn more about …

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