World Cup Toronto – Day One Prelims: Kylie Masse Gets Fast Start at Home Stop
The final stop of the World Cup circuit begins on Thursday morning in Toronto, which takes over hosting duties after previous legs in Carmel (Ind.) and Westmont (Ill.). Action North of the Border will be highlighted by the Triple Crown pursuits of 15 athletes who have already won the same event at back-to-back meets. Swimmers who complete their Triple Crown chases will be awarded $10,000 bonuses.
Americans Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass will have the chance at three Triple Crowns each. While Walsh will seek bonuses in the 100 individual medley, 50 butterfly and 100 butterfly, Douglass will look for sweeps of the 200 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle. Walsh also carries a slight lead over Douglass in the women’s points race.
On the men’s side, Hungarian Hubert Kos has won every backstroke event through the first two legs and will try to extended his 6-for-6 perfection to 9-for-9 by the time competition wraps up. Kos holds a lead in the men’s points standings and will be tough to catch.
Here’s an event-by-event recap of the Day One prelims in Toronto.
Women’s 400 Freestyle (Slow Heats)
The fastest heat of the 400 freestyle will take place during finals, though the event is a timed final.
After the morning heats, Australia’s Hannah Casey leads at 4:08.04, while Canada’s Emma O’Croinin is next at 4:11.73.
Men’s 400 Freestyle (Slow Heats)
The men’s slower heats saw Michell Schott take the clubhouse lead in the 400 free at 3:41.79.
Sander Crooijmans of the Netherlands was next in 3:46.52.
Women’s 50 Backstroke
The women’s 50 backstroke is a who’s who of women’s swimming with all eight spots in the finals being taken by Olympians – and some Olympians missing the cut. All of this chaos while the world record holder isn’t even swimming the event.
Canada’s Kylie Masse was the fastest of the morning, getting to the wall in 25.83 after a quick first 25 of 12.66.
USA’s Gretchen Walsh grabbed the second seed with a swim of 25.84, followed by Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan (25.88), USA’s Katharine Berkoff (26.01) and Australia’s Kaylee McKeown (26.04), making an already fast 50 race even closer heading into finals.
Canada’s Ingrid Wilm took the sixth seed in 26.34, followed by USA’s Olivia Smoliga (26.41), making her World Cup return, and Kayla Sanchez of the Philippines (26.63).
Men’s 200 Backstroke
Hungarian Olympic champion Hubert Kos continued to dominate the backstroke events at the World Cup.
He took the top seed in the 200, getting to the wall in 1:50.08, more than a half second ahead of the field.
Kacper Stokowski took the second seed in 1:50.72, followed by Italian Olympic gold medalist Thomas Ceccon (1:51.2).
Australia’s Josh Edwards-Smith was also under 1:52 with a swim of 1:51.74.
Puerto Rico’s Yeziel Morales took the fifth seed in 1:52.04, followed by Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita (1:52.34), Italy’s Lorenzo Mora (1:52.45) and Australia’s Enoch Robb (1:53.33).
USA’s top finish was Baylor Stanton in 10th (1:53.61).
Women’s 200 Butterfly
USA star Regan Smith put together a strong prelims swim, cruising to the wall in 2:03.88.
The time was almost four seconds off her World Cup record time, but three seconds ahead of the field.
Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey, continuing the strong morning by the host country, reached the wall in 2:06.07 to take the second seed.
Great Britain’s Emily Richards took the third spot in 2:06.78, followed by Australia’s Brittany Castelluzzo (2:06.82), Finland’s Laura Lahtinen (2:08.23), Australia’s Bella Grant (2:08.32), Ireland’s Ellen Walshe (2:08.73) and Maria-Theoni Karagiannis (2:13.07).
Men’s 100 Butterfly
Canada’s strong home showing continued as Ilya Kharun and Josh Liendo raced to the top two seeds in the 100 butterfly, the only two swimmers to break 50 seconds.
Kharun got to the wall in 49.38, while Liendo was at 49.57, setting up what could be a thrilling final for the home crowd.
SCM world record holder Noe Ponti was third at 50.11, followed by USA’s Trenton Julian (50.53).
Poland took the next two spots with Ksawery Masiuk (50.88) and Kamil Sieradzki (51.38), followed by USA’s Rowan Cox (51.92) and Kent Goni Avila (52.01).
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
USA and Ireland set up quite the duel heading into the finals of the women’s 200 breaststroke.
USA’s Kate Douglass, the world record holder in the event, took the top seed in 2:15.74, three seconds ahead of the field.
Her teammate Alex Walsh got to the wall in 2:20.22.
In between were two women from Ireland, Mona McSharry (2:19.44) and Ellie McCartney (2:19.96). McSharry has been in this position several times, going head-to-head with the top Americans. Now McCartney has proved she can as well.
Australia’s Ella Ramsay took the fifth seed in 20:20.60, followed by South Africa’s Rebecca Meder (2:20.62) and Canada’s Alexanne LePage (2:21.77) and Sophie Angus (2:22.93).
Men’s 100 Breaststroke
Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands got to the wall first during prelims to take the top seed in finals at 55.80.
Right on his heels is Great Britain Olympic gold medalist Adam Peaty, who swam a race of 56.49.
Luke Barr followed with a 57.11, ahead of Brian Benzing (57.50), Japan’s Shin Ohashi (57.68), Finn Brooks (57.99), Australia’s Nash Wilkes (58.30) and Italy’s Ludovico Viberti (58.47).
Women’s 50 Freestyle
Another women’s sprinting event stacked with Olympians.
Poland Olympic medalist Kasia Wasick was the fastest of the bunch in the morning with a 23.71 to take the top seed heading into finals.
Australia’s Alex Perkins was just behind in 23.80, while Canada’s Taylor Ruck, swimming a double, put t together a stellar home-crowd pleasing swim to finish in 23.93 and take the third seed.
Marrit Steenbergen took the fourth seed in 24.00, followed by Belgium’s Florine Gaspard (24.23), Philippines’ Kayla Sanchez (24.4), France’s Marie Wattel (24.44) and USA’S Katharine Berkoff (24.47).
This story will be updated as events complete.
