Ryan Cochrane swims world best while Noemie Thomas breaks 50 butterfly national record

The first night of the Canadian World Championship Trials in Victoria, BC started off with hometown boy and Olympic silver medalist Ryan Cochrane posting a world best in the 800 freestyle. Swimming well ahead of the field Cochrane went out in a time of 3:50.64 posting a final time of 7:43.61, which breaks his own meet record and is only two seconds slower than his Canadian record time of 7:41.86.

Going into the evening the fastest time done in the world so far this year was a 7:56.09 by Australian Jordan Harrison.

Cochrane’s teammate at Island Swimming Eric Hedlin finished second in a time of 7:59.64 just missing the FINA A time of 7:59.06. Fellow Victoria area swimmer Craig Dagnall, who represents University of Victoria – Pacific Coast Swimming, finished third with a time of 8:15.06.

17 year old Noemie Thomas did a great job keeping the fans excited, breaking the Canadian National Record in the 50 butterfly. Thomas, who was only one one-hundredth of a second away from breaking Katerine Savard’s National Record time of 26.49 in the morning, won the event in a time of 26.35.

PPO’s Sandrine Mainville finished second in a time of 26.67, which is under the FINA A standard of 26.83. She is not guaranteed selection, however, as the team is selected only in Olympic events, but it does give the Canadians the opportunity for two entries in this event.

Caroline Kuczynski of the Pointe Claire Swim Club finished third touching in a time of 27.33.

UBC Dolphins Kelly Aspinall won the men’s 50 butterfly in a time of 23.80 which is below the FINA A standard of 23.96. Aspinall was also only 14 one-hundredths of a second away from breaking Thomas Kindler’s national record of 23.66.

Finishing second was Toronto Swim Club’s Mike Smerek who touched in a time of 24.20 followed by Henrik Lindau of Sweden who finished third in a time of 24.36.

In the women’s 200 freestyle Barbara Jardin of PPO and Pointe Claire’s Samantha Cheverton had an outstanding race from start to finish, unfortunately only one of the two Olympians swam under the FINA A standard. Jardin won the race in a time of 1:58.25 qualifying for the World Championships while Cheverton finished second in a time of 1:58.80, six one-hundredths of a second over the FINA A standard. That means that Cheverton, and the rest of the Canadians, will have the opportunity to qualify at the Canada Cup in May

Finishing third was ESWIM’s Brittany MacLean posting a time of 1:59.53.

Olympian Blake Worsley of the Toronto Swim Club won the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:48.80, which is just above the FINA A standard of 1:48.42, but by winning the event in a time that is faster than the FINA B standard will be selected to the team.

Finishing second was Island’s Alec Page in a time of 1:49.36 followed by ESWIM’s Aly Abdel-Khalik who finished third in a time of 1:49.59.

The women’s 100 backstroke saw four women go under the FINA A standard of 1:01.39, but it was Dolphin Swimming teammates Sinead Russell and Kristin Steins who will be competing in Barcelona. Russell won the event in a time of 1:00.12 with Steins finishing second in a time of 1:00.85.

Cascade’s Brooklyn Snodgrass finished third in a time of 1:00.98 while Pacific Sea Wolves and Olympian Hilary Caldwell finished fourth in a time of 1:01.05.

PPO’s Charles Francis qualified for the World Championships team winning the men’s 100 backstroke in a time of 55.34, which is under the FINA B standard of 56.34.

Cascade’s Russell Wood finished second in a time of 55.50 followed by Matthew Swanston of the New Market Stingrays who finished third posting a time of 55.67.

Audrey Lacroix of PPO won the women’s 200 butterfly in a time of 2:07.89, which is faster than 2:08.00 that she swam in the semi-finals at the Olympics in London this summer. Fellow Olympian Katerine Savard, who represents CSQ, followed suit finishing second in a time of 2:08.34 which is almost three seconds faster than the 2:11.05 that she posted in London.

Both women finished under the FINA A standard of 2:09.38 and will be headed to Barcelona.

Finishing third was Brenna MacLean of the West Vancouver Otters Swim Club touching in a time of 2:11.47.

Zack Chetrat of the Toronto Swim Club won the men’s 200 butterfly in a time of 1:58.01, which is faster than the FINA B time of 2:01.13, which puts him on the World Championships team.

Finishing second was David Sharpe of the Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club touching in a time of 1:58.55 followed by Alec Page of Island Swimming who posted a time of 1:59.58.

In the women’s 1500 freestyle Tabitha Baumann, daughter of Canadian swimming legend Alex Baumann, punched her ticket to Barcelona winning the event in a time of 16:34.29.

Two youngsters were impressive finishing in second and third. 14 year old Sophia Saroukian of the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club finished second in a time of 17:02.50 while 13 year old Olivia Anderson of ESWIM finished third in a time of 17:08.12.