Wu Peng Blasts 1:54 200 Fly at Canada Cup in Montreal

The Montreal stop of the Canada Cup, always taking place shortly before the big summer taper meets, usually attracts a big crowd. This year’s headliners include the majority of the Canadian Olympic Team, as they prepare to head to their pre-Olympic camp, and the impressive international wing of Club Wolverine, as well as some of their American contingent as well

Even without past participants like Michael Phelps, the action did not fail to disappoint. Club Wolverine’s Wu Peng posted the most impressive time of the first day of senior finals on Friday with a 1:54.91 in the men’s 200 fly. That time makes him just the 5th swimmer in the world this year to crack the 1:55 barrier, and three weeks out will leave him right in the thick of a silver-medal battle behind Phelps.

What’s really exciting about that swim is that it’s almost two seconds faster than he was at this meet either last year or the year before. Those two meets came about four weeks earlier in his training cycle, relative to his championship meet, but he’s historically had no problem hitting a taper. He should be able to hit a 1:54-low in London. That time won by 7 seconds over Ann Arbor teammate Ryan Feeley. Feeley’s 2:01.7 was close to what he was at last week’s Olympic Trials.

In the women’s 100 freestyle, former NCAA Champion in the event Julia Wilkinson swam a 55.46 to top Victoria Poon’s 55.54. As the Canadians look to repeat their finals-bid in the 400 free relay from 2008, though those times don’t seem overly impressive, but it’s right where they need to be. Last season, at this meet, Poon hit her taper in this race a few weeks early, so avoiding that is a good start for her Olympic run this year.

18-year old Amanda Reason was 3rd in 55.89, which is within a few tenths of her lifetime best in the event.

Club Wolverine athletes took the top four spots in the men’s 100 free, lead by Milorad Cavic in 49.32. For the Serbian, this is more of a training race than anything else, as he’s got his eyes set on the 100 fly in London, but it’s still an extremely encouraging time. That’s faster than he was going a decade ago, when he hadn’t endured quite as much wear-and-tear on his chronic lower-back injuries. Look out for a 52-low or a 51 in the 100 fly later in the meet.

Bobby Savulich, apparently coming out of retirement, took 2nd in 49.58, while George Bovell (49.90) and Michael Wynalda (50.75) tapped out the top four. 18-year old Luke Peddie, who is the future of Canadian sprinting, won the B-Final in 50.94.

In the women’s sprint 50 meter breaststroke, Martha McCabe won in 31.47, ahead of Tera Van Beilen (31.72), Jillian Tyler (31.83) and Ashley McGregor (31.84). For McCabe, who’s more 200-oriented, winning a 50 against the sprinters is a great sign for her headed to the Olympics.

Katerine Savard won the women’s 200 fly in 2:09.16, which is her best time of the year, and out-raced Audrey Lacroix (2:09.65).

Full Meet Results available here.

 

 

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Josh
11 years ago

Looks like Duje Draganja is swimming with Club Wolverine now, and apparently swimming fly instead of breaststroke at this meet. Might be a better match for all those extra dolphin kicks he does in his pullouts.

PsychoDad
Reply to  Josh
11 years ago

That is Damir Dugonjic that you refer to I am pretty sure. Duje Draganja does not swim breaststroke.

Craig H
11 years ago

Lol:
“Bobby Savulich, apparently coming out of retirement…”

11 years ago

Is Wu Peng only in the silver medal hunt behind Phelps? I don’t think he will win it, but I’ve seen him as the biggest threat to Phelps in the event for the past couple of years, ready to slip into that gold position at the smallest misstep or mistake by MP.

Lisa
Reply to  Paul McCall
11 years ago

I don’t think that’s true. This was a REALLY good race for him…and yes he beat Phelps, but even when he did he didn’t post any amazing timings. Phelps just swam really poorly. In Charlotte this year, Phelps swam 1:56.87 an Wu Peng swam 1:56.69 but in Austin Phelps swam 1:54.79 and Wu Peng swam 1:56.71… Ann Arbor last year Wu Peng was 1:56.62 and Phelps swam 1:57.79…. Matsuda poses more a threat because unlike Wu Peng he’s more consistently around the 1:54 mark (as aswimfan once pointed out to me!)

aswimfan
Reply to  Lisa
11 years ago

I agree with you Lisa
🙂
I also think Matsuda poses more “threat” to Phepls, if you can call that “threat”.

Lisa
Reply to  aswimfan
11 years ago

pretty much lol I don’t think Phelps will have any problems.

Jg
11 years ago

Funny that Amanda Reason was the Plastic 50 mtr Breastroke WR holder a a 15 year old. there should be a Plastic Hall of Fame for those 100 plus efforts.

PsychoDad
11 years ago

>For the Serbian, this is more of a training race than anything else

Cavic will be swimming 4 x 100 for Serbia at London, so it isn’t just a training race.

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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