Speedo Eastern Canadian Championships: Day One

TORONTO, Canada, February 15. MONIKA Stitski and Francesco Zuccaro grabbed a pair of distance freestyle titles during the first night of swimming at the Speedo Eastern Canadian Championships held in Toronto over long course.

Stitski posted a time of 8:49.33 to walk away with the women's 800 free, while defending champ Zsofi Balazs, 17, took second in 8:53.34. Barbara Jardin, 16, rounded out the top three with a time of 8:59.78.

Last month, Stitski earned Swimmer of the Meet honors at Senior Provincials in Toronto. She was first in both the 400-individual medley and 800 freestyle, as well as second in the 200 backstroke and 400 freestyle, and third in the 200 I.M.

Zuccaro, on the other hand, defended his title with a dominant effort of 15:33.11 in the men's 1500 free. Steven Bielby placed a distant second in 16:14.68, while Frederic Marois placed third in 16:22.33.

The 800 freestyle relay also was on tap at the meet. The Toronto Swim Club quartet of Hilary Bell, Paige Schultz, Kaleigh Heard and Balazs won the women's title in 8:17.21, while the Pointe-Claire squad of Tim Ruse, Bielby, Jonathan Gagne and Tobias Oriwol took first for the men in 7:40.99.

Special thanks to Swimming Canada for contributing to this report.

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