We’re entering the final day of the second stop of the FINA World Cup Series, with action kicking off from Toronto momentarily.
The lineup of events renders big-time talent ready to close out the meet with a bang, including host country swimmers Maggie MacNeil, Kylie Masseand Summer McIntosh.
MacNeil is set to battle the likes of Sweden’s Louise Hansson in the women’s 100m butterfly while both Masse and McIntosh have the women’s 200m back on their schedule. McIntosh, who has already nabbed two World Junior Records here, will also be contesting the 200m IM this morning.
Lithuania’sRuta Meilutyte cranked out a new European Record in the women’s 50m breast last week in Berlin and she’s leading the pack in the event here as well.
The reigning World Record holder in the men’s 100m back, Coleman Stewartof the United States, is expected to race his key event while several contenders will enter the ring in the women’s 100m free, including Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong and Madi Wilson of Australia.
World Jr Record: 3:56.47, Ilya Borodin (RSF), 2021
World Cup Record: 3:57.25, Daiya Seto (JPN), 2018
Men’s 400m IM final results will be included after the fastest heat in the evening session.
WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – HEATS
World Record: 54.59, Kelsi Dahlia (USA), 2021
World Jr Record: 55.39, Claire Curzan (USA), 2021
World Cup Record: 54.84, Kelsi Dahlia (USA), 2018
Sweden’s Louise Hansson wasted no time staking her claim on this women’s 100m fly event. The former USC Trojan produced a super quick morning time of 55.59, representing the only swimmer of the heats to get under the 56-second threshold.
Last week in Berlin the 25-year-old Olympian took the gold in a mark of 55.33 so the Swede is already within .26 of that result.
Canada’s Maggie MacNeil will try to stand in her way, however, fueled by her 50m fly victory from last night. MacNeil grabbed the gold in that sprint in a new Canadian record so she has some momentum behind her to put Hansson to the test.
Brazil may make a run at a minor medal with Giovanna Diamante claiming the 3rd seed in 57.70, while American Linnea Mack lurks as teh 6th seeded swimmer with a morning time of 58.50.
MEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – HEATS
World Record: 21.75, Nicholas Santos (BRA), 2018/Szebasztian Szabo (HUN), 2021
World Jr Record: 22.34, Andrei Minakov (RUS), 2020
World Cup Record: 21.75, Nicholas Santos (BRA), 2018
On-fire Trinidad & Tobago swimmer Dylan Carter scored the top seed in this men’s 50m fly event, reaping a morning time of 22.71. That holds just a .08 advantage over Aussie Kyle Chalmers, the man who already took 100m free gold here in Toronto.
For Carter, the former USC Trojan won this event last week in Berlin in a time of 22.13, within striking distance of his own national record of 21.98 from the 2021 FINA Short Course World Championships when he took silver.
That was one of three victories for the 26-year-old from the first World Cup stop , as he also took the 50m back and 50m free. Carter already nabbed the 50m back and 50m free gold medals here, so his top seed in this 50m fly is one final away from repeating that treble.
Additional contenders include South African ace Chad Le Clos and Japanese record holder Takeshi Kawamoto, who posted 22.86 and 22.90 as the 3rd and 4th seeds, respectively.
WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – HEATS
World Record: 1:58.94, Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2020
World Jr Record: 2:00.03, Missy Franklin (USA), 2011
World Cup Record: 1:59.35, Daryna Zevina (UKR), 2016
Canada nabbed the top 2 spots in this women’s 200m back, led by national record holder Kylie Masse. Masse easily led the morning heats with a solid 2:04.02, while 16-year-old Summer McIntosh was next in line with a mark of 2:05.52.
For McIntosh, her result here marks a new lifetime best. The teen already made some fireworks happen here in Toronto by way of her World Junior Records in the 400m free and 400m IM, the former of which beat American Olympic icon Katie Ledecky in the process.
The winner from the women’s 2back in Berlin is also in the mix here, as American Beata Nelson cruised to the 3rd seed in 2:06.03.
Another Canadian in Ingrid Wilm holds steady as the 4th seeded swimmer in 2:06.20 while Dutch record holder Kira Toussaint continues to race with a finger injury, capturing the 5th seed in 2:06.56.
World Jr Record: 48.90, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2017
World Cup Record: 48.88, Jiayu Xu (CHN), 2018
Leading the way in this men’s 100m backstroke was Kacper Stokowski of Poland. The 23-year-old scored a time of 49.98 as just his 5th time ever under the 50-second threshold.
Stokowski owns a lifetime best of 49.80 from when he placed 5th in this event in Abu Dhabi, a time which rendered him Poland’s #2 performer all-time.
Stokowski will need to be perhaps even faster if he wants to rival Coleman Stewart of the United States for the top prize, Stewart is the reigning World Record holder with his 48.33 result from 2021.
Shaine Casas, also from the United States, sits comfortably as the 5th seed with a morning swim of 52.08. The 1back winner from Berlin, Casas already made big-time history last night, taking the men’s 200m IM event in a time that made him the 2nd fastest man ever.
WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS
World Record: 28.56, Alia Atkinson (JAM), 2018
World Jr Record: 28.81, Benedetta Pilato (ITA), 2020
World Cup Record: 28.56, Alia Atkinson (JAM), 2018
Last week in Berlin we saw out-of-retirement Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania rip a new European Record in this women’s 50m breast event. The Olympic champion clocked a time of 28.60 to beat the field by over a second en route to topping the podium.
This week, however, Meilutyte has American Lilly King with which to contend, with multi-Olympic medalist King securing the top seed this morning in a time of 29.90.
Meilutyte is right behind in 29.91 while last week’s bronze medalist, Anastasia Gorbenko, looks primed to make a run at another medal with her morning outing of 30.37.
Gorbenko has also been under the 30-second threshold in her young career, owning the Israeli national record with the 29.34 she produced for gold. at the 2021 FINA Short Course World Championships.
MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS
World Record: 2:00.16, Kirill Prigoda (RUS), 2018
World Jr Record: 2:03.23, Akihiro Yamaguchi (JPN), 2012
World Cup Record: 2:00.48, Daniel Gyurta (HUN), 2014
Brazil took its first top seed of the day, courtesy of Caio Pumputis in this men’s 200m breaststroke. Pumputis produced a time of 2:05.68 to land lane 4, with Lithuanian Andrius Sidlauskas flanking him with a heats time of 2:06.16.
American Nic Fink won this event last week in a time of 2:05.74 and is already within a second of that result with his morning outing of 2:06.54. He’s joined by 2 other Americans, Charlie Swanson who clocked 2:06.54 for the 4th seed and Reece Whitley who touched in 2:06.95 as the 6th seed.
Of note, 7th-seeded Adam Chillingworth, just earned a new Hong Kong national record en route to nabbing a slot in the final. The previous national mark stood at 2:09.14 so Chillingworth obliterated that former standard with his outing here. He already owns the HKG national record in the long course 200m breast (2:12.17).
World Cup Record:50.58, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
The women’s 50m freestyle victor here, Kasia Wasick, earned the top spot in this women’s 100m freestyle.
The Polish speedster stopped the clock in a swift 52.17 to hold a .14 advantage over runner-up seed Maggie MacNeil of Canada. This makes 2 finals for MacNeil for tonight, as she already raced the 100m fly earlier in this session.
Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, the reigning short course world champion in this event, punched a morning swim of 52.50 as the 3rd seed while 2 Australians are also among the medal contenders for tonight.
After missing out on the 200m free final, multi-medalist at this year’s long course World Championships, Meg Harris, raced her way to the 5th seed in 52.83. Teammate Madi Wilson is one slot ahead of her with a 4th-seed-worthy mark of 52.71.
Wilson was the silver medalist behind Haughey in this event last week in Berlin, having produced a time of 52.00 to Haughey’s 51.59.
MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – HEATS
World Record: 1:39.37, Paul Biedermann (GER), 2009
World Cup Record: 1:39.37, Paul Biedermann (GER), 2009
Matt Sates of South Africa is on a mission once again at this FINA World Cup. The former University of Georgia Bulldog raced his way to the top of the men’s 200m freestyle heats, clocking a morning time of 1:43.58.
Sates is coming off of a decisive victory from Berlin where the 19-year-old scored the 2free gold in a time of 1:40.88. That was just a hair of off of his own lifetime best and World Junior Record of 1:40.65 from last year.
Hoping to stand in Sates’ way, however, is Lithuanian veteran Danas Rapsys. The reigning bronze medalist in this event from the 2021 FINA Short Course Championships, 27-year-old Rapsys sailed into the 2nd seed in 1:43.77, hoping to improve upon his 4th place finish from Berlin.
American Drew Kibler threw his hat into the potential medal ring with a 1:43.78 morning swim, while a pair is tied for 4th in Breno Correia of Brazil and Luc Kroon of the Netherlands. Both hit 1:43.80 to make their way to the final.
For his part, Correia is coming off of this year’s South American Games where the 23-year-old took bronze in the long course 200 free, as well as gold as a member of the Brazilian men’s 4x200m free relay.
Of note, last week’s silver medalist in this event, Kyle Chalmers of Australia, did not race the 2free today. Also, South Africa’s Le Clos missed the final, placing 10th in 1:44.87.
WOMEN’S 200 IM – HEATS
World Record: 2:01.86, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2014
World Jr Record: 2:04.48, Yiting Yu (GHN), 2021
World Cup Record: 2:02.13, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2014
Nothing too crazy happened in this women’s 200m IM prelim, other than the fact it was a Canadian talent show. The host nation claimed all but the 3rd seed, with American Beata Nelson as the sole outlier in 2:09.70. Nelson took the 2IM title last week in Berlin in a winning effort of 2:06.80.
Sydney Pickrem produced a time of 2:07.94 to take the top seed, while Ashely McMillan was next in 2:09.39. Phenom McIntosh coasted into this final with a 6th-seeded 2:10.40.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
