Canadian Olympic Trials: Sydney Pickrem Outduels Kelsey Wog in 200 IM

ickrem, Sydney. 20210621 SCOTDay03. Photo.GerardRichardson-87130

Sydney Pickrem; Photo Courtesy: Gerard Richardson/Swimming Canada

Canadian Olympic Trials: Sydney Pickrem Outduels Kelsey Wog in 200 IM

Sydney Pickrem already knew she was going to the Olympics in the 200 individual medley. But the veteran of Rio made it emphatic Monday night.

Pickrem won the 200 IM at the Canadian Olympic Trials, getting within a second of her national record in 2:09.24 to win the event.

Second was Kelsey Wog in 2:10.21. She outdistanced Bailey Andison, who also holds and A cut and was under the A standard again in 2:10.48. That leaves Wog joining Pickrem in Tokyo.

Pickrem was pre-selected to Trials in the event in May after Swimming Canada delayed Trials for a second time. Rather than providing security, Pickrem felt the pressure.

“I thought it would take pressure off, but it kind of almost did the opposite,” Pickrem said. “I think going into it because I knew I wasn’t necessarily on the form I knew I would be at at Trials where you trying to peak to some extent. And so I kind of went into it knowing I was a bit tired, knowing my strokes weren’t all firing completely, so that pressure, and almost wanting to feel worth it for being pre-selected – I know I’ve done those races but the fact that so much has changed, and I want to get those times. So I think I put a lot of pressure on myself.”

She executed her race plan well. A breaststroke specialist who is always going to have the legs on the back end of the race, she was out first in 1:01.09, 1.65 seconds quicker than Wog, another breaststroker. By the 150 mark, she was clear of the field by more than a second.

“Honestly, it was a well put together race,” Pickrem said. “I think going into it, I just needed to have my head on straight and swim the race that I know to swim. To be out at the 150-mark where I am at training right now, faster than pace, I think it’s good. My freestyle can still be stronger, so I’m excited to see that come more into play when I’m with people at the end of that race.”

Wog closed with the fastest 50 in the race at 30.94. That allowed her to rally past Andison, who had been up by .14 seconds at the 150-meter mark. Wog qualified in the 100 breast Sunday night and views the IM as a fun secondary race for her.

“They’re both incredible competitors,” Wog said.” It’s always such an honor to represent Canada. I was just working on finishing super strong in the breaststroke and free, because that’s what I’m best at. I was just working on making it through the fly and back.”

Event 13  Women 200 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
     CANADIAN: N 2:08.61  2019-06-01Sydney Pickrem, UNATT
    OLYMPIC A: A 2:12.56
    Name                 Year Team              Prelims     Finals        
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Pickrem, Sydney        97 TSC               2:11.39    2:09.24A 
    r:+0.70  28.08      1:01.09 (33.01)
        1:37.81 (36.72)     2:09.24 (31.43)
  2 Wog, Kelsey            98 UM                2:12.45    2:10.21A 
    r:+0.66  28.33      1:02.74 (34.41)
        1:39.27 (36.53)     2:10.21 (30.94)
  3 Andison, Bailey        97 PERTH             2:12.88    2:10.48A 
    r:+0.69  28.73      1:02.28 (33.55)
        1:39.13 (36.85)     2:10.48 (31.35)
  4 Harvey, Mary-Sophie    99 CAMO              2:13.76    2:12.78  
    r:+0.70  28.95      1:02.48 (33.53)
        1:41.23 (38.75)     2:12.78 (31.55)
  5 McMillan, Ashley       04 KISU              2:13.81    2:14.21  
    r:+0.74  28.28      1:01.69 (33.41)
        1:41.45 (39.76)     2:14.21 (32.76)
  6 Cieplucha, Tessa       98 MAC               2:15.17    2:14.36  
    r:+0.79  29.27      1:03.38 (34.11)
        1:42.40 (39.02)     2:14.36 (31.96)
  7 Herbert, Bailey        02 LOSC              2:16.85    2:16.11  
    r:+0.76  29.28      1:04.87 (35.59)
        1:43.44 (38.57)     2:16.11 (32.67)
  8 Mollin, Nina           04 MAC               2:17.95    2:18.23  
    r:+0.66  28.90      1:05.68 (36.78)
        1:45.66 (39.98)     2:18.23 (32.57)
  9 Janvier, Aela          99 PCSC              2:18.28    2:18.47  
    r:+0.75  29.90      1:04.76 (34.86)
        1:46.73 (41.97)     2:18.47 (31.74)
 10 Jansen, Ella           05 ESWIM             2:17.27    2:19.16  
    r:+0.81  29.42      1:04.73 (35.31)
        1:46.25 (41.52)     2:19.16 (32.91)

Men’s 200 Individual Medley

Finlay Knox’s biggest competitor was the clock Monday. Turns out, he trounced that, too.

Knox set the Canadian record in the 200 IM at 1:58.07 to win the event, besting the field by nearly 2.5 seconds. He downs his record set just last month at 1:58.88. Both times are well under the A cut (1:59.67).

“It’s great,” Knox said. “Every time I jump in, I want to be focusing on something I wanted to work on since the last time I raced it. Just jumping in and trying to improve on the last time and getting faster means a lot and it means I’m on the right path to progressing even faster.”

Second was Cole Pratt in 2:00.49. Javier Acevedo was third in 2:00.77. Both are best times. Acevedo’s is a drop of 2.5 seconds from his seed entering the meet. He was eighth after prelims.

Event 14  Men 200 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
     CANADIAN: N 1:58.88  2021-05-08Finlay Knox, SCAR
    OLYMPIC A: A 1:59.67
    Name                 Year Team              Prelims     Finals        
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Knox, Finlay           01 SCAR              2:01.75    1:58.07N 
    r:+0.73  24.74        55.34 (30.60)
        1:29.87 (34.53)     1:58.07 (28.20)
  2 Pratt, Cole            02 CASC              2:03.36    2:00.49  
    r:+0.64  26.01        55.55 (29.54)
        1:31.80 (36.25)     2:00.49 (28.69)
  3 Acevedo, Javier        98 AAC               2:04.15    2:00.77  
    r:+0.73  25.52        55.44 (29.92)
        1:31.11 (35.67)     2:00.77 (29.66)
  4 Hill, Robert           96 UCSC              2:02.73    2:01.98  
    r:+0.64  26.42        57.60 (31.18)
        1:31.91 (34.31)     2:01.98 (30.07)
  5 Champagne, Montana     96 GO                2:03.50    2:02.55  
    r:+0.71  25.95        57.94 (31.99)
        1:33.09 (35.15)     2:02.55 (29.46)
  6 Gagne, Collyn          00 SFA               2:03.28    2:02.81  
    r:+0.70  26.56        58.15 (31.59)
        1:33.61 (35.46)     2:02.81 (29.20)
  7 Bernard, Graysen       02 TSC               2:03.96    2:03.77  
    r:+0.65  26.42        57.08 (30.66)
        1:33.07 (35.99)     2:03.77 (30.70)
  8 Palaschuk, Brian       98 UOFC              2:04.17    2:03.82  
    r:+0.66  26.64        57.65 (31.01)
        1:34.18 (36.53)     2:03.82 (29.64)
  9 Marois, William        98 CAMO              2:04.83    2:04.89  
    r:+0.66  26.45        57.47 (31.02)
        1:34.65 (37.18)     2:04.89 (30.24)
 10 Fotherby, Justin       03 KISU              2:04.82    2:05.22  
    r:+0.70  26.38        57.92 (31.54)
        1:35.43 (37.51)     2:05.22 (29.79)

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