2018 Toronto Grand Prix
- January 19th-20th, 2018
- University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- LCM (50m) course
- Meet Central
- Live Results
World Record holder Kylie Masse kicked off her 2018 year this weekend in Toronto at the Toronto Grand Prix. The meet marks her first long course racing since the 2017 World Championships last summer that saw her win gold in the 100 backstroke and set a new World Record in the event.
Masse swam a 59.38 in the race, which is 1.6 seconds better than her result at this meet last year (albeit last year had a very different timing than this year, with the Commonwealth Games coming in April).
Masse, who represents the University of Toronto, was one of two Canadian National Teamers at the meet. Penny Oleksiak, who wasn’t part of the group that at the Pro Swim Series meet in Austin, also made her 2018 debut on Saturday with a 54.40 in the 100 free.
Masse is scheduled to swim the 200 back on Saturday, while Oleksiak is entered as the top seed in the 50 free and 200 free.
I think Masse will swim a sub 58 100 this year, either in Australia or Japan. I know it’s not that bold of a prediction given her WR is already on the doorstep. But I have a feeling she’ll do it more than once this year. Two target international meets and some relay lead-off opportunities.
Agree.
I’m thinking commonwealth games will be very interesting for the Canadians. I’m very excited to see Oleksiak and Ruck take on Cate Campbell in the 100 free – will be a great race all in (and hard to predict with Ruck surging and Campbell’s inconsistencies).
As for Masse, I’m crossing my fingers that her training continues to go well. Ruck, along with Jade Hannah, have already been under a minute in the 100 back. That gives Canada 3 excellent backstrokers over that distance and will produce an intense race for 2020 Olympic Trials where only 2 will qualify. Then where will the global compitition be? Regan Smith is so young and talented not to mention who knows who else.… Read more »
Kaylee McKeown (2001) looks a big talent – 59.6/2.06 backstroker. Xuwei Peng (2003) was 2.08 to beat Smith the other day wigh pretty awful turns. Natsumi Sakai & Polina Egorova look okay.
Mie Nielsen & Fu Yuanhui will be back too – Both still young and have been 58s along with Smoliga & Baker. Maybe Ustinova too. Personally I’m keeping an eye on Anastasia Shkurdai (2003) who was 1.01 last year after a move to EnergyStandard – Huge talent and rapidly improving.
Women’s backstroke looks amazing.
I recognized 6 of the 11 swimmers Dee cited. I think that’s pretty good.
There is non ting wong with Kaylee . She is a coaches dream , a happy kid who spend her formative years in a healthy club atmosphere playing in the sun & good with all 4 strokes .
Kaylee has that whimsical factor eg just entering a 50 back at the 2015 Oz Champs to get free entry for the week & then going 28.3at 13! Kaylee will be a 2.04 200 bcker & in the future a top 400 imer .
But there is no hurry .
Yep 2.04 .2.06.4 with barely a years serious training – & no particular height advantage got to say something .
Is there a chance that Ruck could beat Oleksiak this year? Maybe.
The most important (and wonderful for Canadian Swimming but also worldwide swimming fans) thing would be watching Ruck and Oleksiak at their best.., and their best could mean astonishing achievements considering their age (both born in 2000) and their swimming talent.
54.4 in the 100 free is a solid debut in LC for Oleksiak; 59.3 in the 100 back a scorching fast one for Masse who, obviously, is the strongest candidate to be the first woman under the 58″ bareer in the 100 back.
My money says Regan Smith breaks 58 first. Want to make a real bet?
Unpredictable Seebohm gonna flip the world upside down again and do it first
disagree… Watch it happen at Commonwealth Games in April