Trio of Longstanding Canadian Breaststroke Records on Life Support
The three-oldest Canadian records are breaststroke standards that date to the super-suit era. On the men’s side, Mike Brown still reigns in the 200-meter breaststroke, off a 2:08.84 performance at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. For the women, a pair of 2009 marks remain. While Amanda Reason owns the Canadian record in the 50 breaststroke at 30.23, Annamay Pierse rules the 100 breaststroke at 1:05.74.
By the end of the summer, all three records could be gone.
Between the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, the Canada’s longest-standing records should come under assault. Oliver Dawson will compete at both meets and will try to consolidate all three breaststroke records under his name. Already the owner of the marks in the 50 breast (27.29) and 100 breast (59.33), Dawson has been knocking on the door of the 200 breast record..
Earlier this year, Dawson went 2:08.93 at the AP Race International in London, a swim that left him just .09 off Brown’s Beijing showing. As a followup, Dawson went 2:09.50 at the Canadian Trials in Montreal. With two major competitions ahead, coupled with demanding opposition, Dawson is positioned to take down the one record that has proven elusive.
Like Dawson, Alexanne Lepage is set to race at both Commonwealths and Pan Pacs. Lepage won the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke at Trials, a time of 2:23.03 delivered in the longer distance. It is in the 100 breast, however, where Lepage could break a national record, as she set a personal best of 1:06.08 in Montreal, an outing that was only .34 off what Pierse generated 17 years ago.
In the women’s 50 breaststroke, Sophie Angus is within striking distance of Reason’s record. Angus clocked a time of 30.40 in the final at Trials, but was faster in prelims, going 30.28. The fact that Angus, who will only race at Pan Pacs, has nudged the Canadian record on a pair of occasions puts the standard on notice.
The Canadian breaststroke records have gone untouched for a lengthy stretch, but as is the case with all records, they eventually will falls. It seems those days are close.
