World Cup Toronto: Maggie Mac Neil Scares World Record in 100 Butterfly; Pops No. 3 All-Time Mark
Through two days of action at the FINA World Cup in Toronto, there was no shortage of standout performances. Katie Ledecky set a world record in the short-course version of the 1500-meter freestyle. Summer McIntosh established world junior records in the 400 freestyle and 400 individual medley. And Dylan Carter continued to dominate the sprint events.
The series will shift to Indianapolis later this week, with action unfolding from Thursday through Saturday at the esteemed Indiana University Natatorium. But before the tour crosses the border into the United States, here’s a look at what transpired on Night Three in Toronto.
Men’s 400 Individual Medley
There was no doubt about the outcome of the first event on the schedule, as South Africa’s Matt Sates surged to the front of the field on the opening butterfly leg and never looked back. Sates cruised to victory in 4:02.65, an effort that supplied a two-plus second cushion over runnerup Alberto Razzetti (4:05.03) and bronze medalist Hubert Kos (4:05.13) of Hungary.
Men’s 800 Freestyle
Egypt’s Marwan El Kamash, who raced during the slower heats ahead of the night session, ended up winning the timed final with a swim of 7:45.09. That effort allowed El Kamash to defeat Dutchman Luc Kroons, who grabbed top honors in the fastest heat, but whose swim of 7:48.52 left him more than three seconds back.
Women’s 100 Butterfly
Canadian Maggie Mac Neil registered the third-fastest time in history and fell just shy of the world record when she rallied over the second half of the race to beat Sweden’s Louise Hansson. Mac Neil popped a time of 54.78, which was not far off the world record of 54.59, held by American Kelsi Dahlia. Mac Neill trailed Hansson by .12 at the midway point, as Hansson was under world-record pace but Mac Neill reeled her in down the stretch to set a Canadian standard. The Swede touched in 55.02.
Men’s 50 Butterfly
Matching what he pulled off at the first stop in Berlin, Dylan Carter went 3-for-3 in sprint events in Toronto, his latest victory arriving in the 50 fly. Already the winner of the 50 freestyle and 50 backstroke, Carter clocked 22.28 for the fly to turn back a challenge from South Africa’s Chad Le Clos (22.45). Third place went to Italy’s Thomas Ceccon in 22.60.
Women’s 200 Backstroke
American short-course specialist Beata Nelson made it a pair of victories in the backstroke this weekend, as she added the 200 title to the 100 back gold she managed on Saturday. Nelson pressed the pace from the start and was under world-record pace through the first half of the race. Although she tired over the last two laps, Nelson turned in a strong time of 2:00.50. She was followed in second and third place by Canadians Kylie Masse (2:02.21) and Summer McIntosh (2:02.85).
Men’s 100 Backstroke
Make it another gold for Shaine Casas in Toronto. With titles previously claimed in the 100 individual medley, 200 IM and 200 backstroke, Casas went wire-to-wire to beat the field in the 100 backstroke. Casas was under world-record pace at the halfway mark and finished in 48.84, which was good for a World Cup record and the eighth-fastest time in history. Casas was followed by fellow American Coleman Stewart in 49.95.
Women’s 50 Breaststroke
The comeback from retirement of Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte keeps getting better. Following a win over American Lilly King in the 100 breaststroke on Saturday, Meilutyte came out on top in the 50 breast behind a swim of 28.96, the only sub-29 effort. King was second in 29.20. Prior to doubling in Toronto, Meilutyte earned medals during the summer at both the World Championships and European Champs and is on a good trajectory toward the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Men’s 200 Breaststroke
Nic Fink completed his breaststroke sweep in Toronto, winning the longest of the distances in 2:03.78. Trailing the Netherlands’ Caspar Corbeau at the 100- and 150-meter marks, Fink surged on the final 50 meters to move ahead of Corbeau, who placed second in 2:04.17. Fink closed in 31.68, compared to the 32.28 of Corbeau. Third place went to Brazilian Caio Pumputis (2:04.27).
Women’s 100 Freestyle
For the second straight stop, Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong was the winner of both the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle. On Sunday, Haughey claimed the 100 free, going 51.33 to lead a quartet of women under 52 seconds. Haughey was followed into the wall by France’s Beryl Gastaldello (51.67), while Kasia Wasick (51.69) and Madison Wilson (51.80) were third and fourth.
Men’s 200 Freestyle
Although he is best known for his prowess in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, American Brooks Curry surprised the field in the 200 free when he snared victory in a tight finish with Trenton Julian. Curry touched the wall in 1:42.32 and was fueled by a closing 50 meters of 26.39. Julian placed second in 1:42.35 while Kieran Smith completed the American sweep of the podium with a mark of 1:42.45, .01 ahead of a fourth-place tie between Matt Sates and Danas Rapsys.
Women’s 200 Individual Medley
Beata Nelson snared her second triumph of the evening by using her underwaters to power the Wisconsin product to victory in 2:05.08, just ahead of the 2:05.23 of Canada’s Sydney Pickrem. Nelson prevailed in the 200 backstroke earlier in the session. Canada’s Summer McIntosh checked in with a third-place finish, going 2:06.57.