Wog Breaks Meet Record, Becomes Second-Fastest Canadian Ever

by Ben Dornan 10

February 21st, 2020 Canada, College, International, News, U Sports

2020 U SPORTS SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Kelsey Wog took home gold in the 100 breast on the first night of the 2020 USports Swimming Championships with a 1:06.44. The University of Manitoba swimmer was also fast enough to break the 2015 meet record of 1:07.76 by over a second. In 2015, Fiona Doyle of the University of Calgary raced to a 1:07.76 victory to become the fastest in the history of what was then known as the Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) Championships.

Wog took gold tonight by nearly a four-second margin over the field, with Hilary Metcalfe from UBC coming in second at a 1:10.59 and University of Ottawa’s Lauren Shearer getting bronze with a 1:10.75. This victory for Wog makes it 4-for-4, having won the 100 breast in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Wog’s winning time last year was a 1:08.23, meaning she was an impressive 1.79 seconds faster this year to defended her title.

Wog’s previous best in the 100 breast was a 1:07.54 from 2019 Canadian Trials where she came second to Kierra Smith‘s 1:06.54. The 1:06.44 puts Wog at #2 all time for Canadian women in the 100 breast, now sitting only behind Canadian olympian Annamay Pierse. Wog now sits at second ahead of Amanda Reason’s 1:06.53 and Kierra Smith‘s 1:06.54. Pierse remains the sole Canadian woman to get under the 1:06 mark with a 1:05.74 from back in 2009.

Canadian Women’s LCM 100 Breast All-Time Performers

  1. Annamay Pierse – 1:05.74
  2. Kelsey Wog – 1:06.44
  3. Amanda Reason – 1:06.53
  4. Kierra Smith – 1:06.54
  5. Rachel Nicol – 1:06.68
  6. Jillian Tyler – 1:07.18
  7. Sydney Pickrem – 1:07.20
  8. Faith Knelson – 1:07.30
  9. Tera van Beilen – 1:07.37
  10. Tianna Rissling – 1:07.90

This swim for Wog puts her in a good position going into Canadian Olympic Trials, as the top ranked Canadian woman this season. Wog’s swim tonight sets her well ahead of the previous season 3 fastest Canadians so far this year: Nina Kucheran in 1:09.21, Miranda Stever with a 1:09.59, and Sydney Pickrem with a 1:09.59.

As the meet continues, Wog will look repeat last year’s sweep of the breaststroke titles, entering the meet seeded first in both the 50 and 200 breast. Last year she won those events in times of 31.80 and 2:25.50, respecttively. She will also swim the 200 IM, in which she is seeded second behind Emily Overholt. Overholt has already had a speedy start to the meet having won the 200 free and 400 IM on the first night.

Friday prelims get underway tomorrow at 10 am PT, with finals beginning at 6 pm.

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IRO
4 years ago

Uh oh. Canadian medley relay just got a little scarier.

N P
Reply to  IRO
4 years ago

And it’s a very scary relay if all the pieces come together.

Masse (Ruck as reserve)
Wog/Smith
Macneil
Oleksiak/Ruck.

Troyy
Reply to  N P
4 years ago

Still won’t beat the US unless some of them drop more time or the US flops but could very well overtake Australia.

njones
Reply to  Troyy
4 years ago

For sure big long shot still on paper. This is simply moving them closer. If Wog can progress to a 105 low relay split then CAN is likely 2 sec back of US into the fly. Maggie out split US leg by about 1 sec last year, and she keeps raising her bar, so it simply makes things appear more interesting at this point. If Simone has any lead on Day 8 she will hold it as she has proven to get better further into the longer meets. It would take a one-leg flop from the US, plus a lights out leg from at least one of the 4 Canadians to make it really close. But it’s now close enough… Read more »

Admin
Reply to  N P
4 years ago

Wog/Smick/Pickrem, who was the breaststroker at Worlds last year.

Thausyav
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

It’ll be interesting to see who goes in the 100 between Wog, Smith, Pickrem and Nicol. Wog has clearly been having a good year and I expect her to be on top of the podium however Smith seems a little off this year and Nicol has been very low key this year but she had the fastest 50 time sc and has been 1:06 LC before so I wouldn’t be surprised to see her back at form. I think Sydney will be fast but i dont know if she will swim the 100.

Admin
Reply to  Thausyav
4 years ago

The Wildcard is Smith moving back to Minneapolis. We’ve no idea what that will mean, except that we know that her best swimming came when it was in Minneapolis. How much can they get done in 2 months? Not sure. But it will be fun to watch.

Wog has a TON of momentum. When she went toe-to-toe with Lilly in the ISL opener, that was an eye-opener.

Swimfan
Reply to  Thausyav
4 years ago

Forgetting Faith Knelson?

Thausyav
Reply to  Swimfan
4 years ago

She hasn’t been training full time.

njones
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

Pickrem went very solid 106 split in the final, especially for a 200 breaststroker, 400 IMr…