Harvey Pops 2:10.41 In 200 IM, Kryger Denies Wilm A Backstroke Sweep To End Canadian Open

Mary-Sophie Harvey continued her strong form at the meet with a dominant win in the women’s 200 IM, touching in 2:10.41—a time that ranks 6th in the world this season. The 25-year-old CAMO star took control on the breast leg and sealed the deal with a 30.80 freestyle split.

Earlier in the meet, Harvey posted a 1:56.46 in the 200 free, which currently sits 2nd in the world rankings, and clocked a personal best of 2:25.14 in the 200 breast. Her lifetime best in the 200 IM stands at 2:09.57 from last May’s Canadian Olympic Trials.

Ella Jansen, who swims collegiately for the University of Tennessee and won the 200 fly on the opening day of the meet, finished second in 2:13.78. She led Harvey through the first 100, but her breast split of 40.51 was well behind Harvey’s 37.24, and that make all the difference.

Alexanne Lepage and Shona Branton went to battle in the women’s 100 breast, with Lepage finishing 1st in 1:07.66 and Branton coming in 2nd at 1:08.76. Lepage currently holds the 5th fastest time in Canadian all-time rankings with a 1:06.58 from 2023, while Branton follows closely in 6th with a 1:06.59 from 2024.

Lepage took the race out much stronger than Branton and was able to close faster as well. However, they may be at different points in their training, two months out from the World Championship Trials, so keep an eye on both as the meet approaches.

Oliver Dawson, 17, was golden in the men’s 100 breast, touching at 1:01.59. He posted a strong 28.86 split at the 50 turn and maintained his lead throughout, finishing with a 32.73 split over the final 50.

His 1st-place showing marks his third breast win of the meet, having previously clocked 27.98 to win the 50 on day one and 2:14.87 to scoop up the 200 victory on Friday.

Dawson broke onto the Canadian national scene this summer, culminating in a bronze medal in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.27) and a silver in the 4×100 medley relay (3:36.13) at the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships. His efforts helped Canada achieve its highest-ever medal total at the meet, with 16 overall.

Additional Winners:

• Tori Meklensek, the reigning NCAA Division II champion in the 500-yard free for Simon Fraser University, claimed the women’s 400 free in 4:17.69. She also won the 800 free on Friday with a time of 8:53.71. Her personal best in the 400 free is 4:16.24, set in July 2024.
• Stanford commit Ethan Ekk nabbed gold in the men’s 400 free, notching 3:54.48—just shy of his best time of 3:53.35 set last May.
• Four-time Olympic medalist Taylor Ruck clocked 25.54 to win the women’s 50 free, building on her 100 free victory on Friday.
• Kent Goni Avila dropped over a second from his previous best, clocking 2:04.08 to win the men’s 200 IM. The 2003-born athlete representing Wilfrid Laurier University eclipsed his 2022 career best of 2:05.17.

Para Results:

• Myriam Soliman won the women’s 50 fly S3–S7 with a time of 45.64 and 700 points.
• Alisson Gobeil took the women’s 100 breast S4–S9, S11–S14 with a time of 3:35.27 and 685 points.
• Nicholas Bennett won the men’s 200 free S1–S5, S14 with a time of 1:59.39 and 946 points.
• Shelby Newkirk placed 1st in the women’s 50 free S1–S14 with a time of 34.86 and 946 points.
• Reid Maxwell won the men’s 50 free S1–S14 in 28.06 with 961 points.
• Ali Diehl captured gold in the women’s 100 breast SB4–SB9 with a time of 1:25.33 and 834 points.