Maggie MacNeil Continues Pan Am Gold Rush With 100 Free Games Record In 53.64

2023 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

Maggie MacNeil remains perfect through three finals at the 2023 Pan Am Games in Santiago, claiming the women’s 100 freestyle on Monday night in record fashion.

MacNeil led from the jump and really pulled away from Brazilian Stephanie Balduccini down the back half en route to victory in a time of 53.64, snapping the Pan Am Games Record of 53.83 set by fellow Canadian Chantal van Landeghem in 2015.

The time for the 23-year-old MacNeil was also a new personal best, improving upon the 53.77 she produced on the lead-off leg of Canada’s prelim 400 free relay at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka.

Split Comparison

van Landeghem, Old Games Record MacNeil, Old PB MacNeil, New Record/PB
25.79 26.05 26.10
53.83 (28.04) 53.77 (27.72) 53.64 (27.54)

On the opening day of competition, MacNeil had the fastest split in the field by a wide margin in the 400 free relay, throwing down a 53.14 leg to guide the Canadian women to gold in a time of 3:37.75.

On Day 2, the reigning Olympic gold medalist won her specialty event, the 100 fly, in a time of 56.94, lowering Kelsi Dahlia‘s previous mark of 57.24 from 2015.

In tonight’s 100 free final, MacNeil led runner-up Balduccini (54.13) by nearly half a second, while American Catie Deloof (54.50) held off Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey (54.64) in the race for bronze.

MacNeil will be back in the water at the end of Monday’s session in pursuit of a fourth gold medal on Canada’s mixed 400 medley relay.

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Nick the biased Aussie
1 year ago

Canada gunning for 🥈 again in the womens 4×100 free relay at the Paris Olympics.

Tencor
Reply to  Nick the biased Aussie
1 year ago

They are void of a fourth leg to be competitive at the moment

"we've got a boilover!"
Reply to  Tencor
1 year ago

They are unsure of which 4 that’s for sure. Alot of “ifs” to see how they unfold this year:

Can Penny get back to Elite 100 free status?

Can Taylor get back to 2018/19 levels, or at least a 52 high relay split?

Can Rebecca get back to 52.9 split levels?

Will they have to rely on Summer after one of her 400m events? Will it be an understandably tired 54 Summer? Or a 53 low, progress to 52 high lights out 17 yr old Summer?

Maggie seems to be the rock of the team now, 53 mid of blocks, maybe 3 low/2 high with the right takeover.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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