Summer McIntosh Tops Qualifying In 400 Individual Medley at Canadian Trials; Ready to Chase World Record
With three impressive victories already logged at the Canadian Trials for this summer’s World Championships, 16-year-old Summer McIntosh started her march toward a fourth triumph on Saturday morning. Now training in Florida with the Sarasota Sharks and coach Brent Arckey, McIntosh earned the top seed in the 400-meter individual medley behind a prelim effort of 4:40.69.
Throughout the week, McIntosh has wisely managed her morning performances, not unnecessarily pushing the pace and conserving energy for the evening finals. Her approach has worked brilliantly, as she has already set a world record in the 400 freestyle and world junior records in the 200 individual medley and 200 butterfly.
In the final of the 400 medley, McIntosh will take aim at the world record, set nearly seven years ago by Hungarian Katinka Hosszu. The global standard sits at 4:26.36 from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and McIntosh could be in position to challenge that mark. After all, she already set a world record over 400 meters freestyle earlier this week and she boasts a personal-best time of 4:28.61 in the event.
Sydney Pickrem was second to McIntosh in prelims, clocking in at 4:44.58.
In other action from Saturday’s prelims, Kylie Masse paced the way in the 200 backstroke, going 2:08.68. Meanwhile, Lorne Wigginton (4:19.47) topped qualifying in the men’s 400 medley, although teenage standout Ilya Kharun is considered the favorite after easing through prelims in 4:25.65. Kharun won the 200 butterfly on Friday night.
Richie Stokes went 1:59.55 to qualify first in the men’s 200 backstroke.
Good swimmers are like good
Thinkers,
Always ready to be ,
At their best.