Summer McIntosh Hits 57.9 100 Fly, 54.2 Relay Split in Orlando
After cutting nearly five seconds from her lifetime best in the 800 freestyle Thursday evening, Summer McIntosh raced three events Friday at the Orlando Sectionals. The Canadian star representing the Sarasota Sharks won a pair of off events, notching a time of 1:10.39 for a win in the 100 breaststroke and then a 57.92 to win the 100 butterfly by more than three seconds. Finally, she anchored Sarasota’s winning 400 free relay in 54.28.
While neither of her individual races produced a world-class time akin to the dominant form she has shown in the mid-distance freestyles, 200 fly and 400 IM over the past year, it’s worth noting that the 100 fly mark is just one hundredth slower than the 57.91 required to qualify for the final of the event at last year’s World Championships. While Canada’s top 100 butterfly swimmer, Olympic gold medalist Maggie Mac Neil, skipped the individual race at Worlds, McIntosh’s time beat the top swims recorded by Canadians Katerine Savard and Rebecca Smith in Budapest.
Additionally, McIntosh showed indications at the Commonwealth Games that she could be a future presence on the Canadian 400 free relay, particularly with longtime standout Kayla Sanchez having departed to represent the Philippines in international competition. McIntosh split as fast as 53.33 on a relay at that meet in Birmingham, England, and midseason efforts in the 54-low range are further evidence that she could join the likes of Mac Neil, Penny Oleksiak and Taylor Ruck on future medal-contending relays for Team Canada, even as soon as this summer’s World Championships.
Later on this weekend, McIntosh is scheduled to race the 100 backstroke Saturday, followed by the 200 breast and 200 back Sunday.