USA Swimming Grand Prix, Columbia: Canada Dominates Night One

COLUMBIA, Missouri, February 10. THE first night of the USA Swimming Grand Prix being held in Columbia, Mo., featured a dominant outing by the Canadian contingent in town to contest meet crowns in this long course meter competition.

Canada dominated the opening finale of the night with a 1-2-3 finish in the women's 200 free. Samantha Cheverton clocked a 1:58.46 to win the event, and move to 12th in the early world rankings. Julia Wilkinson placed second in 1:58.68, while Barbara Jardin earned third in 1:58.91. Notably, former Swimming World World Swimmer of the Year Laure Manaudou placed 10th in 2:01.34 behind Canada's Sinead Russell (2:00.90) in the B final.

Canada's Blake Worsley captured the men's 200 free title in 1:49.08 to also pick up 11th in the world rankings. Tucson Ford's Darian Townsend placed second in 1:49.08, just being touched out by Worsley, for 12th in the rankings. Ryan Cochrane snared third in 1:50.13.

After clocking a 1:08.41 to lead preliminary qualifying in the women's 100 breast, Minnesota's Jillian Tyler, also from Canada, won in 1:09.05. Tianna Rissling picked up second-place honors in 1:09.27, while Ashley McGregory wound up third in 1:09.82.

Davie's Felipe Lima broke the Canadian streak of winning swimmers with a 1:00.89 in the men's 100 breast. That swim pushed him to third in the world rankings behind Daniel Gyurta (1:00.43) and Daniel Sliwinski (1:00.75). Trojan's Eric Shanteau raced to second in 1:01.11, while New York's Mark Gangloff took third in 1:01.45.

Canada returned to the top of the podium in the women's 100 fly with a 58.23 from Katerine Savard. Stanford's Elaine Breeden finished second in 58.68, while Tucson Ford's Christine Magnusson snagged third in 58.85.

Auburn's Tyler McGill became the first American to win this evening with a 52.58 in the men's 100 fly. That swim vaulted him to third in the world rankings behind only Francois Heersbrandt (52.29) and Michael Phelps (52.41). Auburn's Fred Bousquet checked in with a second-place 53.54, while Brazil's Thiago Pereira earned third in 53.66. Surprisingly, Cesar Cielo faded to 10th overall with a 54.75 behind Joe Bartoch's B final winning 54.43.

Canada's Alexa Komarnycky topped the women's 400 IM in 4:41.66, taking seventh in the early world rankings. Brazil's Joanna Maranhao placed second in 4:42.49 for 10th overall. Canada's Stephanie Horner completed the top three in 4:44.91.

Alec Page of Canada continued the banner day for America's neighbor to the north as he clinched the men's 400 IM title in 4:20.80, taking ninth in the world rankings. Andrew Ford (4:23.34) and Esteban Enderica (4:24.12) earned the second and third-place finishes.

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