Finlay Knox’s attack on the Canadian record books in his signature event is not slowing down.
The Okotoks Mavericks Swimming alumnus broke his own Canadian record in the 200m individual medley for the fourth time, setting a new benchmark at 1:57.26 on March 30 at the 2023 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials to book his spot at this summer’s World Aquatics Championships.
“Obviously, Trials, we’d like to swim fast but the point is to make the team,” said Knox in a Swimming Canada release. “Once we’re on the team then it’s focused on the summer. I was maybe a little nervous going in, just making sure we put a swim down that will put us on the team and then go from there.
“I’ve been focusing a lot on other events and how to help my IM. I just feel like I wasn’t quite connected today but every time we dive in, we learn something and hopefully we can build off this.”
https://twitter.com/CBCOlympics/status/1641587017883566080
Knox, 24, was the record-holder going in at 1:57.50, a time he established at the 2022 Trials. Year over year, the Foothills Composite graduate shaved off time in the middle legs of backstroke and breaststroke. He has the six fastest times ever posted by a Canadian in the event.
His performance was under the FINA A standard in the IM race required to swim at the world championships.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympian will be part of the Canadian contingent at the World Aquatics Championships July 14-30 in Fukuoka, Japan.
Also in Toronto, the Mavericks were represented by four of the club’s current swimmers with Wells Ginzer, Caden Kotowich, Jenna Willey and Lucy Wiens competing with the best in the country.
Ginzer, a Canada Games gold medallist, earned his way into three finals, highlighted by an eighth-place finish in the 50m backstroke A-final, touching the wall in 26.85 seconds.
He was also eighth in the 100m backstroke junior final and qualified for the final in the 100m butterfly.
Kotowich, a University of Lethbridge commit, swam to a 21st place showing in the 50m breaststroke and was 31st in the 100m breaststroke.
The 15-year-old Willey was 52nd in the 50m butterfly. Wiens, 14, the youngest Maverick at the competition, was 46th in the 50m backstroke.
The 2023 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials ran from March 28 to April 2 and featured 623 swimmers, representing 148 clubs across Canada.
For more information, visit okotoksmavericks.com.
