Oleksiak Drops 200 Fly, Keeps 200 Free On Day Four Of Canadian Trials

2019 CANADIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

Four-time Olympic medalist Penny Oleksiak has scratched out of the women’s 200 fly prelims on day four at the 2019 Canadian Swimming Trials, initially coming in with top seed time in 2:09.96.

The move doesn’t come as much of a surprise as the event is only about 20 minutes after the 200 freestyle, an event she’ll have more incentive to swim to try and solidify a spot on the 800 free relay.

The scratch from Oleksiak makes Danielle Hanus the top seed coming into the heats, followed by Mabel Zavaros (in terms of Canadians – Jing Wen Quah of Singapore is now seeded second overall but cannot advance to the ‘A’ final).

In the 200 free, the 18-year-old Oleksiak is the fifth seed (again among Canadians) in 1:57.79. She qualified for her second World Championship team on night two in the 100 freestyle, but missed adding a second individual event last night after placing third in the 100 fly.

Other notable scratches from prelims come from Sydney Pickrem (ninth Canadian seed) in the women’s 200 free and Richard Funk (third seed) in the men’s 50 breast.

Pickrem has already qualified individually in the 200 breast and 400 IM, and still has the 200 IM scheduled for Sunday.

Funk won the 100 breast so he should be added to the Worlds team for the medley relay despite failing to reach the ‘A’ cut. The non-Olympic events (50 back, breast, and fly) aren’t being used for World Championship selection.

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Canadian Swimmer
5 years ago

Not a big surprise. it’s Day 4 and the grind of a long, hard meet is starting to tell. Better for Penny to swim the 2 Free because we’ll need her power on the relay in Korea.

Yozhik
Reply to  Canadian Swimmer
5 years ago

Now we are talking about relay only. Too sad. She is the luckiest girl in the world to peak at her swimming career in Olympic year to the level of Olympic champion and an honor to carry the flag of her Nation.

Canadian Swimmer
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

Well, I’m not talking about her as a relay only swimmer. Can’t see why she won’t be swimming 2 or 3 individual events along with the relays come Tokyo 2020. Oleksiak has shown flashes of brilliance at these trials. Then again, she’s also shown that she’s currently not up to the rigours of a big meet schedule. Guess those are matters she and her coaches need to find some way to balance.

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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