Canadian Trials... Day 4 Primer

Like everyone else, I'm bummed that a great citizen of Canadian swimming, Mike Brown, failed to qualify for the Olympics but it was not that hard to see coming.  Mike's a great guy, but the sport of swimming is equal parts fair and unfair and at this point in time it just is not his time.

Onto Day 4... coming down the mountain for the meet, it's ladies day at Trials with three events for the women and one for the men.

EVENT 29:  WOMEN'S 200FLY
Audrey Lacroix is the top seed in the event but Katerine Savard is the favourite to win and be Canada's best swimmer in this event come London.  The FINA A cut is 2:08.95, can Audrey be that fast again, she was not sharp in the 100FL... Or will some of the women who swam very well in the 100FL step up and get on the team in the 200... I'm thinking someone like Mackenzie Downing who showed some life in the 100FL is the best bet to be a threat in the 200FL to grab the second spot behind Savard... or it could be Lacroix or it could be no one...
Prediction:  Savard & Lacroix 1-2 and off to London.

EVENT 30:  MEN'S 100FR
It will be interesting to see what kind of shape Brent Hayden comes to Trials in...  He has a spot on the team, pre-nominated and there's zero chance he gets bumped so Hayden is on the team.  The bigger storyline is can Colin Russell get under the FINA A cut of 48.82 and can a couple other guys step up to the 49ish level so Canada can send a relay?  There are only 3 Canadians entered at Trials with a time under 50, so it does not look good for our chances to send a relay.
Prediction:  Colin Russell wins and Brent Hayden comes in a solid second.  No relay.

EVENT 31:  WOMEN'S 200IM
The last day and second last event for Alexa Komarnycky, she's ranked 3rd in the 200IM and has a shot although I'm sure she does not want it come down to the 200.  Julia Wilkinson and Erica Morningstar are the stars of this event in Canada but if you have been watching, the Calgary HP guys have not been overly sharp.  If Morningstar stumbles that opens the door for someone to step up and steal that second spot.  Time to watch, that FINA A standard of 2:13.36.  I like the 16-year old upstart from the Nepean Kanata Barracudas to grab the second Olympic spot, watch out for Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson.
Prediction:  Wilkinson & ESH on their way to London.

EVENT 32:  WOMEN'S 800FR PRELIMS ONLY
Komarnycky is ranked 2nd in the 800FR too, close to the FINA A cut.  The good thing for her is that all she needs to do is crack the top 8 and then she can focus on the 200IM tonight and the 800FR final will be tomorrow.  No predictions yet, it will be interesting to see how the final lines up for tomorrow.  Tough not to like Savannah King and Brittany MacLean in this event come tomorrow night, especially after both have already shined in the 400.