|
A former Winskill swimmer, Karyn Jewell,
qualified for the 2010 World Championships of openwater swimming
last weekend at the trials in Long Beach, CA. Karyn swam with WDSC
for 5 years before moving to Ontario in September. This berth on
the national team will feel all the more sweet as she battled an
illness last year that prevented her from attaining her best
performance at the trials competition in 2009 - Karyn is a great
example of perserverance and shows what can happen if you just
stick with it and work hard!
LONG BEACH, California – Zsofia Balazs of Toronto
took third spot on Sunday at the open water world championship
trials while Karen Jewell of Gatineau, Que., rebounded from a
disqualification to gain a spot on the Canadian team
In the women’s five kilometre, Christine Jennings of the
U.S., was first in 59 minutes and 45.714 seconds and her compatriot
Eva Fabian second in 59:45.963. Balazs, who locked up a spot
on the world team on Friday by being the top Canadian in the 10
kilometre, followed in 1:00:08.411.
“I’m very happy with the performance,” said
Balazs, 19, who has come back from a concussion suffered last
October in training. “I haven’t done a five kilometre
race in a long time but the fact I had a spot already in the 10
kilometre, I felt less pressure and just did my best. The big
difference today was using my legs a lot more. I made sure I
was kicking and had my stroke down pat.”
Jewell, 16,
was one of Canada’s fastest swimmers in the 10 kilometre but
was later disqualified for touching the dock at the feeding station
at the eight kilometre mark. On Sunday, she won a tight
battle with Heather Maitland of Toronto for seventh place clocking
1:02:47.260. Maitland was eighth in 1:02:58.326.
“I had
a lot of fire in me today,” said Jewell. “The 10
kilometre was disappointing and frustrating but I just had to get
back on my feet and swim fast in the five kilometre to get on that
team.’’
Nadine Williams of Edmonton, Canada’s second qualifier
in the 10 kilometre, was 11th, Beatrice Pineau of Boischatel, Que.,
12th, Joanie Guilmette-Simard of Quebec City, 18th, and Julianne
Brown of Calgary 21st
In the men’s five kilometre, Deni Cullom led the U.S.,
to a 1-23 finish with Fran Crippen second and Charles Peterson
third. Richard Weinberger of Victoria was sixth, Simon Tobin
of Ste-Foy, Que., eighth and Aimeson King of Victoria ninth.
The top-nine were all within a minute of each other.
‘’I’m pretty happy with that,’’
said Weinberger, who qualified for the worlds with Tobin in the 10
kilometre Friday. ‘’It was more of an aggressive
race today and there was a tough sprint to the
finish.’’
Xavier Desharnais of Lasalle, Que., was 15th, David Dorian of
Toronto 20th, Cameron Bailey of Markham, Ont., 34th, Max Moore of
Calgary 37th and Scott Jessett of Toronto 44th.
The world open water swimming championships are set for
Roberval, Que., July 17-23.
|
