MONTREAL, July 1. WORLD championship medalist Colin Russell of Burlington, Ont., overcame a recent shoulder injury to win the gold medal in the men\u2019s 200-meter freestyle on Friday to open the Bell Grand Prix swimming competition. Russell led from start to finish to earn the gold medal in 1:51.50. Chad Hankewich of Saskatoon was second in 1:52.97 and Yannick Lupien of Quebec City third in 1:53.17. <\/p>\n
\u201cI felt great in the water tonight,\u2019\u2019 said Russell, 22, a member of Canada\u2019s 800 freestyle relay team that won silver at the 2005 World Championships. \u201cMy goal was to improve on my morning swim and I came out on top.\u201d <\/p>\n
Chanelle Charron-Watson of Quebec City was also pleased with her showing, clocking 2:01.67 to win the women\u2019s 200 freestyle. Audrey Lacroix of Montreal was second in 2:03.12 and Melanie Bouchard of Quebec City third in 2:03.42. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very pleased with my race, it was a best time for me,\u201d Charron-Watson said. \u201cThe competitive field in this event was very elevated with the Americans and my three Quebec opponents pushing me all through my race. This win has given me great confidence. My goal tonight was to tighten my splits and go for the win.\u201d <\/p>\n
Lacroix returned to take top spot in the women\u2019s 50 butterfly in 28.18 with Mackenzie Downing of Victoria second in 28.22 and Jennifer Carroll of Trois-Rivieres, Que., third in 28.32. Other winners included Matthew Huang of Montreal in the men\u2019s 50 breaststroke, Thomas Kindler of Montreal in the men\u2019s 50 butterfly, Lisa Blackburn of Waterloo, Ont., in the women\u2019s 50 breaststroke, and Landice Yestrau of Winnipeg in the women\u2019s 100 backstroke. <\/p>\n
This is the second of three Bell Grand Prix meets across Canada this year, after last month's debut in Vancouver and with another scheduled for November in Toronto. This weekend\u2019s competition offering $22,500 in prize money has attracted about 400 swimmers from North America including two-thirds of Canada\u2019s national team. <\/p>\n
MEN<\/b><\/p>\n
50 breaststroke: 1. Matthew Huang, Montreal, 29.43; 2. Mike Brown, Calgary , 29.67; 3. Michel Boulianne, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., 30.34. <\/p>\n
50 butterfly: 1. Thomas Kindler, Montreal, 24.58; 2. Joe Bartoch, London, Ont., 24.78; 3. Dominique Bourdages, Montreal , 25.41. <\/p>\n
100 backstroke: 1. David Russell, U.S., 56.51; 2. Keith Beavers, Waterloo, Ont., 58.11; 3. Charles Francis, Montreal, 59.26. <\/p>\n
200 freestyle: 1. Colin Russell, Burlington, Ont., 1:51.50; 2. Chad Hankewich, Saskatoon, 1:52.97; 3. Yannick Lupien, Quebec City, 1:53.17. <\/p>\n
800 freestyle relay: 1. Bluefish Swim Club, 7:47.70; 2. Team Saskatchewan, 7:49.26; 3. Universite Laval, 7:50.70. <\/p>\n
WOMEN<\/b><\/p>\n
50 breaststroke: 1. Lisa Blackburn, Waterloo, Ont., 33.34; 2. Michelle Laprade, Montreal, 33.98; 3. Marie-Pier Ratelle, Quebec City, 34.26. <\/p>\n
50 butterfly: 1. Audrey Lacroix, Montreal, 28.18; 2. Mackenzie Downing, Victoria , 28.22; 3. Jennifer Carroll, Trois-Rivieres, Que., 28.32. <\/p>\n
100 backstroke: Landice Yestrau, Winnipeg, 1:04.50; 2. Elizabeth Beisel, U.S., 1:04.55; 3. Elizabeth Pelton, U.S., 1:04.94. <\/p>\n
200 freestyle: 1. Chanelle Charron-Watson, Quebec City, 2:01.67; 2. Audrey Lacroix, Montreal, 2:03.12; 3. Melanie Bouchard, Quebec City, 2:03.42. <\/p>\n
800 freestyle relay: 1. Toronto Swim Club, 8:22.24; 2. Universite Laval, 8:24.83; 3. Club CAMO, 8:33.16.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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