Summer McIntosh sets world junior, Canadian records in 200m butterfly at national swimming trials
Josh Liendo, 20, falls just short of Brent Hayden's men's 100m freestyle record
Summer McIntosh now has a hat-trick of records after her first three events at the national swimming trials at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.
On Friday night, McIntosh set a world junior and Canadian record in the 200-metre butterfly.
Summer McIntosh set another world junior and Canadian record, this time in the 200m butterfly... 🇨🇦🚨<br><br>AND the only pressure she's feeling is the pressure she puts on herself 👏 <a href="https://t.co/ElbSTfE89V">pic.twitter.com/ElbSTfE89V</a>
—@CBCOlympicsHer time of 2:04.70 took down her previous record time (2:05.05) set earlier this month. McIntosh's smooth, powerful strokes helped her surge to the wall in a blistering time, once again electrifying the crowd.
"This is my favourite pool in the world and to do this with my family and friends here means the world to me," McIntosh said after the race. "This validates my training and lets me know I'm doing something right."
WATCH | McIntosh claims latest Canadian record time after 200m butterfly win:
The generational talent is having a remarkable meet.
It started on opening night when the 16-year-old swimming sensation broke the world record in the 400m freestyle.
With her parents, Jill and Greg McIntosh, in the crowd on Tuesday night, Summer stopped the clock in a time of 3:56.08, breaking the world record held by Ariarne Titmus of Australia.
WATCH | Relive Summer McIntosh breaking world record in 400m freestyle:
"I don't think pressure really exits in my mind," McIntosh said Friday. "The only true pressure is the pressure I put on myself to perform."
On Thursday night, McIntosh broke her own world junior record in the 200m individual medley. Her time of 2:06.89 yesterday would have won gold at worlds last summer.
And her time also would have won gold at the Tokyo Olympics by more than a second.
Liendo just misses Brent Hayden's record
Josh Liendo, who broke two national records earlier this week, nearly had his third on Friday night.
Despite a brilliant 100m swim in the freestyle, Liendo came up just shy of breaking Brent Hayden's 2009 Canadian record time.
Liendo, 20, shot off the blocks with his parents watching in the crowd. He surged to the wall with Hayden on the pool deck watching every stroke.
"It's coming. I can get that record," Liendo said. "I'm always hungry to get better. There are always things I can improve and get better. There's still more I can fix. I just have to focus on those things and keep improving."
Hayden, who cheered on Liendo throughout the race, said he's never seen a Canadian swim sub-48 seconds at trials.
"Records are meant to be broken. It means we're getting better and faster," Hayden said. "It's only a matter of time before Josh breaks it. And that's amazing.
Josh Liendo JUST misses Brent Hayden’s national record in the 100m free <br><br>47.86 Josh’s time tonight. Hayden’s record 47.27.<br><br>“I’ve never seen a Canadian go sub-48 at a trials. That was incredible” Hayden just told me. <a href="https://t.co/6IdrhIdXiH">pic.twitter.com/6IdrhIdXiH</a>
—@Devin_HerouxThis comes just a day after Liendo posted the fastest 50m freestyle time in the world this season, stopping the clock in 21.80. On Wednesday, Liendo broke his own Canadian record twice in the 100m fly.
His standout performances at these national trials come just a week after Liendo became an NCAA champion in the 100-yard freestyle in his freshman year at the University of Florida. In that race he led from start to finish, stopping the clock in the second fastest time ever at 40.28.
Only American superstar Caeleb Dressel has been faster in the event.
Kharun nearly breaks his own record
Riding the momentum of McIntosh's fast swimming, another rising star in Ilya Kharun nearly broke his own Canadian record in the same event.
Kharun, 18, stopped the clock in the 200m fly in a time of 1:54.57. His national record time of 1:54.49 was set at the beginning of March.
"That first hundred felt great. Unfortunately that time is not really what I wanted but I just got to keep training and be ready for worlds in Japan," he said after the race.
"It just has to be a little quicker. That final 50 is not where it needs to be. I just have to keep training. I wanted to be a little faster today. It is what it is."
WATCH | Montreal's Ilya Kharun a name to watch at Canadian swimming trials:
The teen is widely regarded as one of this country's great male talents in the pool. He's spent most of his life living in Las Vegas after being born in Montreal.
In his final year of high school, Kharun has committed to Arizona State, where he's joining a group of talented swimmers preparing for the Paris Olympics.
"I'll be ready for worlds. I can't wait to keep lowering that time."
WATCH | Finals on Day 4 of Canadian swimming trials:
Other winners
Maggie Mac Neil captured another national title on Friday night, winning the women's 100 freestyle with a time of 54.58.
The 23-year-old from London, Ont., won the 100 butterfly on Wednesday and the 50 freestyle on Thursday.
Maggie Mac Neil wins the 100m freestyle national title in a time of 54.58 🇨🇦🚨 <a href="https://t.co/VAmANB054g">pic.twitter.com/VAmANB054g</a>
—@CBCOlympicsTwo-time Paralympic medallist Nicolas-Guy Turbide won the men's 50 freestyle multi-class in 24.35, shaving 0.39 seconds off his time from the morning preliminaries.
Other Para winners Friday were Nicholas Bennett in the men's 100 butterfly multi-class (58.25), Shelby Newkirk in the women's 50 freestyle multi-class (33.36) and Katie Cosgriffe in the women's 100 butterfly multi-class (1:10.05).
James Dergousoff topped the podium in the men's 50 breaststroke in 27.76, while Sophie Angus won the women's 50 breaststroke (31.13).
WATCH | Mac Neil overcomes struggles, feeling refreshed:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from CBC Sports
