Canadian Olympic Trials: Julia Wilkinson Breaks Minute Barrier; Several Heartbreaking Finishes

Visit Swimming World's Event Landing Page for complete coverage of the meet. Click Here To View VIDEO.Men's 200 fly
In an incredibly close contest, David Sharpe clipped Zack Chetrat, 1:58.81 to 1:58.83, for the lone Olympic spot in the event. Since both swimmers missed the FINA A cut of 1:56.86, only Sharpe earned a provisional spot on the squad pending FINA's B cut selection process that happens later this meet. Chetrat placed an agonizing second by such a small margin.

Sharpe was a consolation finalist in the 100-meter fly during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Trials in Canada, and has come a long way to earn an Olympic bid. Chetrat, meanwhile, trains at the University of Toronto, and had many Canadian Interuniversity Sport battles with Sharpe on the collegiate scene.

Alec Page, the 400 IM Olympic representative, took third in 1:59.99, while Stefan Hirniak finished fourth in 2:00.26. Mack Darragh (2:00.65), David Dimitrov (2:01.54), Thomas Jobin (2:02.14) and Kyle McIntee (2:03.99) also swam in the championship finale.

Women's 100 back
Canada earned a pair of Olympic spots in the event with Julia Wilkinson cracking 1:00 with a 59.85, and Sinead Russell surging onto the Olympic team with a second-place time of 1:00.45. Wilkinson became just one of six women under 1:00 this year, standing fifth in the world, and became the 26th woman ever under 1:00. Her previous best had been a 1:00.33 from the 2011 Canada Cup last July.

Russell, meanwhile, improved to 13th in the world with her swim. Russell owns the Canadian record in the event with a 59.68 from the 2011 World Championships, and will be gunning for a similar result this summer.

Hilary Caldwell has the misfortune of bettering the FINA A cut (1:00.82) but finishing third and off the team with a 1:00.77. Dominique Bouchard (1:01.09), Genevieve Cantin (1:01.96), Brooklynn Snodgrass (1:02.00), Katelyn Murdoch (1:02.54) and Gabrielle Soucisse (1:02.77) also competed for an Olympic spot in the finale.

Men's 100 back
Charles Francis earned the sole spot for Canada in the event with a 54.84, while Matthew Swanston finished second in 55.56. Matt Hawes placed third in 55.62. Francis represented Canada during last year's 2011 World Championships, making semifinals in the 50-meter back before taking 16th. He also wound up 22nd overall in the 100-meter back.

Jake Tapp (56.17), Gleb Suvorov (56.39), Pascal Wollach (56.42), Graham Hawes (56.45) and Nick Karpov (57.41) rounded out the top eight.

Women's 400 IM
In another nailbiting finish, Stephanie Horner edged Island Swimming teammate Alexa Kormarnycky, 4:42.25 to 4:42.69, for the Olympic roster spot in the event. With both swimmers slower than the FINA A cut of 4:41.75, only Horner captured an Olympic bid.

Horner, a Pan American Games medalist and 2011 World Championships representative for Canada, earned 18th in the world with her swim. Komarnycky, a 2008 Beijing Olympic Games competitor for Canada in the event, made her way to 20th in the world with her swim.

Karyn Jewell (4:45.26), Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson (4:45.65), Breanne Siwicki (4:47.56), Hanna Pierse (4:49.93), Melanie Dodds (4:52.22) and Vanessa Treasure (4:53.45) placed third through eighth in the finale.

MULTI-CLASS FINALS
Summer Mortimer turned in a 1:08.19 for the top women's 100 back S10 division time. Kirstie Kasko led the S14 division with a 1:18.53, while Camille Berube posted a 1:26.23 in the S8 division. Benoit Huot raced to a 1:01.53 in the men's 100 back S10 division, while Brian Hill earned the top S13 time with a 1:05.07. Adam Rahier clocked a 1:07.19 in the S14 division. Maxime Olivier turned in 2:10.09 in the women's 50 back in the S2 division. Danial Murphy posted a 56.46 in the men's 50 back S5 division.

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