Canadian Olympic Trials, Night Two: Summer McIntosh Impresses Again; Just Off Best in 200 Freestyle

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Canadian Olympic Trials, Night 2: Summer McIntosh Just Off Best in 200 Free

Since the beginning of 2023, only four women have broken 1:54 in the women’s 200 freestyle.

There’s world record holder Mollie O’Callaghan, with her 1:52.85 from the 2023 World Championships. There’s her countrywoman Ariarne Titmus. There’s Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong.

And then there’s Summer McIntosh, the world junior record holder who joins O’Callaghan with three swims under 1:54 in that time frame.

McIntosh fired off a time of 1:53.69 Tuesday night, the second evening of finals at Canadian Olympic Trials in Toronto. The time is just .04 off her best, a world junior and Canadian record. And it solidifies her contender status in what is shaping up as one of Paris’ best events.

All the action from Night 2 of Trials:

Men’s 400 individual medley

A Canadian is headed to the Olympics, though maybe not the one you thought. Tristan Jankovics delivered his second solid swim of the day to win in 4:11.74. That’s under the A cut pf 4:12.50.

Second place went to Lorne Wigginton, who went 4:13.60. The top seed entering the meet, he was unable to improve what already was a B cut time. Collyn Gagne was third.

Women’s 200 freestyle

The news for Summer McIntosh is great. The news for the other Canadian contenders, less so.

Behind McIntosh, Mary-Sophie Harvey delivered a sensational swim, the 25-year-old booking a spot in the event at the Olympics with an A cut of 1:55.44.

No one else got under the A cut, though, which may be cause for relay concern. It could be the difference between an Olympic final in the 800 free relay and a podium. Julie Brousseau was third in 1:57.60. Emma O’Croinin was fourth in 1:57.86. Brousseau, 18, has international experience from Pan Am Games, while O’Croinin, at 20, swam her first senior international meet five years ago.

But others not stepping up could be a concern. Penny Oleksiak was ninth at night, actually .02 slower than the morning. Katerine Savard was 10th. Rebecca Smith slowed to 1:59.14, good only for eighth.

Men’s 100 backstroke

It’s two to the Games for the Canadians. Blake Tierney won the event in 53.48, getting under the A cut of 53.74. Just .07 behind him was Javier Acevedo, the 26-year-old getting to his third Olympics.

Aiden Norman was third in 53.99, with Raben Dommann fourth in 54.06, attesting to some depth in the program. Norman, the University of Florida commit, is a name on the rise.

Women’s 100 breaststroke

There were no A cuts for the female breaststrokers, and no jump of the kind that the Canadian medley relay hopes would’ve wanted.

Sophie Angus won the race in a time of 1:06.96. That’s an Olympic B cut, but shy of the 1:06.79 needed to guarantee a spot in Paris. Kelsey Wog was second in 1:07.00, with Sydney Pickrem third in 1:07.27.

Shona Branton and Alexanne Lepage followed, the latter, at just 18, not quite delivering on the pre-meet hype.

Para Events

Katarina Roxon made the A qualifying time in the women’s SB8 100 breaststroke. The 31-year-old went 1:25.71 to finish second in the event. She’s vying for a place at her fifth Paralympics. She’s the fifth swimmers to hit a qualification time in two days.

Tess Routliffe won the event in 1:30.47, lowering the SB7 national record. Nicholas Bennett set an SB14 record of 1:03.71 to win the men’s 100 breast.

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Kanga1

7 months ago

Impressive swim from Summer. The Olympic 200m Freestyle is going to be a cracker! Sti the US trials,see what Ledecky does and of course there’s still the Aussie trials. Both Titmus and ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’ may break the WR!
Exciting prospects!