Canadian Trials... Day 6 Primer

Wow.

How moving was it yesterday to see the joy of the MacLean sisters getting on the team?

How amazing was that desperate performance of Alexa Komarnycky in the 800FR and finally getting on the Olympic team in her last chance?

Trials are always amazing and there is just one more day.  Day 6.  The end of the line, a few more events for the road.

EVENT 46: WOMEN'S 50FR
Top seed Chantal VanLandeghem showed 50 speed in her 100FR but did not have the staying power to finish the deal in the 100.  Hopefully she can recover and bounce back in the 50FR.  CVL and Victoria Poon are the prohibitive favourites, although watch out for Sandrine Mainville who was out like lightening tonight in the 100FR but couldn't finish the full 100, Mainville might be the spoiler in this equation.
Prediction:  VanLandeghem wins, Poon 2nd, both go to London.

EVENT 48:  MEN'S 50FR
Richard Hortness won this event 4 years ago, put himself on the Olympic team and had been relatively quiet until he exploded earlier in this meet and finished 2nd in the 100FR and earned a spot on the 4x100 team.  I foolishly didn't think Hortness would have the meet he has had, but he was really good in the 100 and he will give Brent Hayden a run in the 50.  The only problem is that the FINA A cut is a seriously fast 22.11 and I don't think two guys are getting under that time.
Prediction:  Hayden wins and will be the lone qualifier for London... but Hortness will be damn close.

EVENT 50:  WOMEN'S 200BK
This should be Sinead Russell's event, she's on the team now so hopefully the nerves have dampened down a bit although I thought she would do better then she did in the 100FR.  The FINA A cut of 2:10.84 is quite attainable for a few swimmers so I like Canada to send two, one being Russell and the second being a dog fight between Hilary Caldwell, Genevieve Cantin, and Dominique Bouchard... and don't count out Julia Wilkinson either...
Prediction:  Russell gold, Bouchard silver and both go to London.

EVENT 51:  MEN'S 200IM
Splitting the IMs on the first day and the last day was quite the organizational choice, and it's given Andrew Ford far too long to stew over his disappointment in the 400IM.  I like Ford, he's a good guy, and he's the top seed in the 200IM and I hope his 200BK today was just an aberration and he comes out all guns blazing tomorrow and just smokes everyone in the 200IM and earns his spot to London.  Alec Page is already qualified 6th for the 1500FR Final tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see how he plays out balancing the 200IM and 1500FR... Page is ranked 13th in the 200IM in the psych sheets but one has to believe he's ready for a breakout performance in the 200IM but I have zero idea where his priorities lay.
Prediction:  Andrew Ford... I hope I'm right.

EVENT 52:  MEN'S 1500FR
After prelims today the number one seed going into Finals was not Ryan Cochrane it was Californian turned Canadian Eric Hedlin.  Make no mistake, Cochrane is going to smoke through his comfortable 15:28.83 he posted in heats, but don't be surprised if Hedlin chases Cochrane the whole way and both go under 15 minutes in the Final.  This could be an exciting and fantastic end to the Trials.
Prediction:  Cochrane & Hedlin go 1-2 and both will represent Canada in London

I will take some time on Monday to take a full look back through these Trials, they have been amazing like they always are and hopefully will continue to be forever.