Nicholas Bennett of Parksville and Kayla Sanchez from Scarborough, Ont., were the king and queen of the pool in Friday night’s finals at Saanich Commonwealth Place in the Bell Canadian Trials for the FINA world championships at Budapest, 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and world Para championships in Portugal.
Sanchez shunted sa国际传媒’s most medal-decorated Olympian, Penny Oleksiak, into second place in winning the women’s 100-metre freestyle in 53:68 to Oleksiak’s 53.71.
“The 100 and 200 metre freestyle is such a deep event [for sa国际传媒] and I’ve wanted to win for such a long time,” said Sanchez, winner of two relay medals last summer in the Tokyo Olympics.
“Penny is such a great finisher. It was a little bit intimidating but feels great. I am happy with the result.”
Third- and fourth-place Taylor Ruck and Katerine Savard, also Olympians, qualified to race the 4x100 relay with Sanchez and Oleksiak in Budapest and Birmingham.
Tokyo Paralympian Bennett, out of the Ravensong Breakers club in Qualicum Beach, set his third Canadian Para record of the meet.
“It feels great to be back on the Island. It really lifts my mood,” said Bennett, the 18-year-old, who now trains in Montreal, and is headed to the Para worlds.
“I’ve learned to be patient and trust the process. It’s taken a lot more mental fortitude [in getting through the last two years].”
Other winners Friday included 15-year-old sensation Summer McIntosh in the women’s 200-metre butterfly in 2:07.60 and Joshua Liendo in the men’s 100-metre freestyle in 48.35.
The trials began Tuesday and run through Sunday. Qualifying races are in the mornings beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the finals in the evenings at 6 p.m. All sessions are being streamed live on CBC Sports and CBC Gem.
