Canadian Brent Hayden Makes Comeback With 49.91 100 Free

2020 CASCADE TRANS MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL

• Saturday, February 22nd & Sunday, February 23rd
• Brookfield YMCA at Seton
• 50m (LCM)
• Psych Sheets
• Results

Canadian Olympian Brent Hayden made his long-awaited comeback at the 2020 Cascade Trans Mountain Festival in Calgary, Alberta. The meet, hosted by Cascade Swim Club at the Brooksfield YMCA pool is playing host to over 300 swimmers, including much of Canada’s top swimming talent.

This morning’s prelim session was highlighted by Hayden’s 49.91 100 freestyle, the only one in the field to dip under the 50 second mark. Going in as top seed, this is a solid start to the meet for the now un-retired swimmer. As would be expected, Hayden was a bit off his best 100 freestyle which is a 47.27 from over a decade ago at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. At that meet, Hayden failed to defend his 2007 title and slipped to 4th place, setting a Canadian record along the way.

Hayden’s 47.27 remains the Canadian record to this day, with no one coming within 0.6 of the time. The closest he came to a best time since then was a 2012 effort of 47.8, with which he won Olympic bronze. Other then Hayden, the closest time to the record came in 2016 from Santo Condorelli when he placed fourth in Rio with a 47.88.

Since Condorelli now represents Italy internationally, no current Canadian swimmer other than Hayden has cracked the 48 second mark in the 100 free in the last decade.

Despite the 49.91 being roughly 2.5 seconds over his best, this swim is a good sign for the now 36 year-old. With Canadian Olympic Trials nearly a month away, it is unlikely that he is rested or tapered for this meet. Assuming that is true, we may see something even faster come April.

Hayden now sits at second for Canada this season, following Yuri Kisil who swam a 49.48 at the Knoxville Pro Swim Series in January. Hayden will have a shot to lower his 49.91. however in tonight’s final where he will race Stephen Calkins (50.71 this morning), Carson Olafson (51.01), and James Lebuke (51.97), among others.

Also racing the 100 freestyle LCM tonight, also with a shot of cracking 50 seconds will be Markus Thormeyer at the 2020 USports Championships. There, Thormeyer will go in to the 100 free final as top seed, having swam a 48.35 short course this morning. Thormeyer is currently ranked third in the country with a 50.33 from the Toyota U.S Open back in December.

With Thormeyer and Hayden competing at different meets tonight and Kisil in his final few weeks of preparation at the High Performance Centre, Ontario, the three are set to face off soon at Trials in April, each vying for a spot on the Olympic team.

Hayden will conclude his comeback meet tomorrow where he will the 50 freestyle, entered first with a 22.34.

Other Notable Top Seeds

• Junior Worlds gold medalist Jade Hannah goes in first to the 50 free and 100 back with 26.00 and 1:00.91
• Junior Worlds bronze medalist Cole Pratt secured the 200 back and 200 IM top seeds, clocking a 2:07.16 and 2:07.04, respectively
• Pan Ams medalist Richard Funk hit a 1:02.68 100 breast, going in first tonight by over 5 seconds
• National teamer Haley Black sits at first in the 100 fly with 1:00.85
• Mackenzie Paddington was the only sub-2:00 200 free, swimming a 1:58.82