Head Coach Ben Titley Breaks Down Team Canada’s Day Two Performances

TORONTO 2015 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

For full coverage of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games including photos, live recaps, record posts, and more, visit our Toronto 2015 Pan American Games event channel here.

200m Breaststroke

Kierra Smith and Martha McCabe pulled off a 1-2 finish for Team Canada in the 200m breaststroke final, both dipping under the Pan American Games record that Smith set in prelims.

The two were almost neck and neck the entire race, and when it came down to it, the deciding factor was the last five meters.

Smith trudged to the 100 wall in first splitting a 109.68. Right behind her was McCabe in 1:09.97. American Annie Lazor followed her in 1:10.23.

McCabe kicked things into gear on the third 50, out-splitting her rivals with a 37.01. At the 150 wall, McCabe was in first by a slim margin and the two Canadians came off it together.

Stroke for stroke they extended their lead over the rest of the field, but it was Smith who managed to get out in front and get her hands on the wall for gold. Not long after Smith stopped the clock in 2:24.38, McCabe stretched in for a 2:24.51.

200m backstroke

The Canadians managed the second 1-2 finish of the night with a huge performance in the finals of the women’s 200m backstroke. Hilary Caldwell struck gold with a time of 2:08.22, taking a big chunk off Elizabeth Pelton’s Pan American Games record that she set back in 2011.

Dominique Bouchard was just behind Caldwell the entire race, and ended up finishing second in 2:09.74. In the process the two Canadians finished well ahead of the rest of the field leaving the United States’ Clara Smiddy to win bronze in 2:11.47.

Caldwell made her move at the 75-meter mark, overtaking American Kylie Stewart and turning first in 1:03.09. Bouchard also passed the American, hitting the wall in 1:03.57.

Caldwell extended her lead as she reached the 150-wall with Bouchard almost a full second behind her. Once again, Caldwell increased her speed on the last 50 to take the gold in 2:08.22. Bouchard was a 2:09.74 to take silver. Smiddy managed to hold on to her position in order to touch third.

With that time for Caldwell now ranks sixth in the world.

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About Mitch Bowmile

Mitch Bowmile

Mitch worked for 5-years with SwimSwam news as a web producer focusing on both Canadian and international content. He coached for Toronto Swim Club for four seasons as a senior coach focusing on the development of young swimmers. Mitch is an NCCP level 2 certified coach in Canada and an ASCA Level …

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